ICARDA AT COP27

Published Date
November 01, 2022
Published by
ICARDA Communication Team
ICARDA at COP27
ICARDA at COP27

The 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the UNFCCC, hosted by Egypt in Sharm el-Sheikh, occurs 6-18 November 2022. The transformation of agri-food systems for climate resilience and global food and nutritional security is high on the COP27 agenda and a priority for CGIAR and its drylands agriculture center ICARDA. 
  
Drylands farming feeds millions of people across the arid regions of Central and West Asia, North Africa (CWANA), and the Middle East. As the climate crisis deepens, unsustainable water management and land-use practices continue, putting food and nutritional security of growing populations at grave risk. Resilient and sustainable agri-food systems are now a critical area for agricultural research in the region and beyond, making Egypt a fitting location for COP27.

 

ICARDA at COP27 

ICARDA's delegation, led by Mr. Aly Abousabaa, CGIAR's Regional Director CWANA and Director General of ICARDA, will participate in and lead over 20 events over the conference period. This year marks the first year where all 12 CGIAR Centers are coming together as a cohesive delegation within the UNFCCC COP process, a milestone in the ambitious OneCGIAR transformation to ensure the research partnership for a food-secure future is fit-for-purpose and can support effective transformation of food, land, and water systems in the climate crisis.  

At COP27, ICARDA will advocate for urgent global action to revolutionize 'business-as-usual' agri-food systems that are no longer fit for purpose, including in the dry regions. Under the intensifying climate crisis, yields are declining, land degradation and water scarcity are accelerating, and today's food systems continue to significantly contribute to greenhouse gases that perpetuate climate change. 

The delegation will showcase CGIAR's new global portfolio of agricultural initiatives and highlight the vital research potential that the CWANA Region offers through a rich abundance of unique plant and livestock biodiversity already adapted to harsh conditions, existing renewable energy projects, and national climate-smart agriculture programs well underway. These factors, along with the region's wide variations in agroecology, farming systems, climate, soil types, local expertise, and cultural practices, mean the region can act as a 'living lab' for global agri-research and be the leader in providing solutions to global challenges.

 

ICARDA Delegation at COP27: 

  • Aly Abousabaa - ICARDA Director General and CGIAR CWANA Regional Director 
  • Roula Majdalani - ICARDA Climate Change Advisor 
  • Michael Baum - ICARDA Deputy Director General and Research Team Leader 
  • Vinay Nangia - ICARDA Soils, Water and Agronomy Research Team Leader 
  • Mariana Yazbek – ICARDA Genebank Manager   
  • Ajit Govind -  ICARDA Senior Climate Scientist and Systems Modeler 
  • Rachid Moussadek - ICARDA-INRA Morocco Systems Cropping Agronomist Joint Researcher 
  • Mary Margaret McRae – ICARDA Head of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization 
  • James Pursey – ICARDA Communication Manager  

 

COP27 – ICARDA Agenda

(subject to change as COP27 progresses)

 

ICARDA-led events

Time & Place  Event Title 

 

Tuesday 8 

12:00 - 13:00 

Food Pavilion

 

Climate Security for the Global Drylands 

(click title for more details)

 

Wednesday 9 

18:30 - 20:00 

Akhenaten (150) Official UNFCCC Side Event 
 

Can Science and Technologies Alone Build Climate Resilience in Africa and the Middle East?  

(Co-convened by the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT

(click title for more details)

 

Saturday 12 

17:30 - 18:30 

Food Pavilion 
 

Genetic Resources for Climate Adaptation 

(Co-convened by the Global Crop Diversity Trust) 

(click title for more details)

 

ICARDA Delegation Participation

Time & Place 

Event Title 

 

Sunday 6 

16:30 - 18:00 

Food Pavilion 

 

CGIAR: Africa-RII Session 

Aly Abousabaa & Michael Baum Speaking 

 

Monday 7 

12:15 - 18:00 

UNFCCC & the Arab Republic of Egypt Blue Zone 

 

 

Sharm El-sheikh Climate Implementation Summit and First Part of the High-level Segment

Aly Abousabaa Speaking (TBC) 

 

 

Monday 7 

13:30 - 14:30 

Food Pavilion 

 

CGIAR: Featuring research and innovation to address food security in Africa amidst climate change 

Aly Abousabaa & Vinay Nangia Speaking 

 

 

Tuesday 8 

08:00 - 18:00 

UNFCCC & the Arab Republic of Egypt Blue Zone 

 

SHARM EL-SHEIKH CLIMATE IMPLEMENTATION SUMMIT and FIRST PART OF THE HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT 

Aly Abousabaa Speaking (TBC) 

 

 

Friday 11 

10:00 - 11:00 

 

 

Gender, Climate Security & Agriculture: Strategies for Inclusive Adaptation 

Aly Abousabaa Speaking (TBC) 

 

 

Friday 11 

11:30 - 12:30 

Water Pavilion 

 

Thematic Day 4 (TD4): Climate-smart Agriculture for Food Security, Adaptation and Sustainability  

Aly Abousabaa Speaking 

 

Friday 11 

15:00 - 16:00 

 

 

High-Level AIM for Climate Roadshow Event: Accelerating AIM4C Investments for Smallholder Agriculture 

Aly Abousabaa Speaking (TBC) 

 

 

Friday 11 

15:00 - 16:00 

Water Pavilion 

 

FAO Session 4: Innovation, technology and digital agriculture 

Vinay Nangia Speaking  

 

Friday 11 

17:00 - 19:00 

Renaissance Sharm El-Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort 

 

Reception - Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for climate) event   

Aly Abousabaa Attending 

 

Saturday 12 

8:30 

 

 

FAST Initiative Launch 

Aly Abousabaa Speaking (TBC) 

 

Saturday 12 

09:00 - 10:00 

 

 

Open session for Ministers 

Aly Abousabaa Speaking (TBC) 

 

Saturday 12 

10:00 

 

 

EU event on the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) 

Aly Abousabaa Speaking (TBC) 

 

Saturday 12 

13:00 - 15:00 

Qatar Pavilion 

 

Qatar Government Adaptation Session 

Vinay Nangia Speaking 

 

Saturday 12 

15:00 - 16:00 

Grand Hall

 

AOAD & CGIAR Event: From Malabo to Sharm El-Sheikh 

 

Saturday 12 

15:00 - 16:00 

 

 

IDDC Side event: "Promoting Adaptation and Resilience for the Poor and the Vulnerable." 

Aly Abousabaa Speaking (TBC) 

 

Saturday 12 

16:00 - --:-- 

 

 

IFAD, Worldbank, Rabobank - Innovative tools for finance and de-risking 

Aly Abousabaa Speaking (TBC) 

 

Monday 14 

09:30 - 10:30 

Morocco Pavilion 

 

Morocco Government Conservation Agriculture event 

Vinay Nangia & Rachid Moussadek Speaking 

 

Wednesday 16 

10:00 – 11:30 

Tajikistan Pavilion 

 

FAO - The role of agrobiodiversity in Tajikistan for world food security 

Michael Baum Speaking 

 

Wednesday 16 

14:30 - 15:30 

EU Pavilion 

 

EU - A water-sensitive pathway to energy transition: The water-energy nexus 

Vinay Nangia Speaking 

 

Wednesday 16 

16:00 - 17:00 

Food Pavilion 

 

CGIAR (Excellence in Agronomy) - Agronomy provides key entry points for climate change adaptation with mitigation as co-benefits 

Vinay Nangia Speaking 

 

Wednesday 16 

17:00 - 18:30 

RECREEE Pavilion 

 

RECREEE - What does it take to accelerate investment in Water-Energy-Food Nexus projects? 

Vinay Nangia Speaking