The Paris Agreement was a landmark achievement in the international response to climate

change. The agreement was built on the intended nationally determined contributions

(INDCs) submitted by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCCC). The agricultural sectors (crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture) feature

prominently in these national commitments, as outlined in the FAO study, The Agriculture

Sectors in the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs): Analysis. This is indicative

of growing international recognition that climate action in the agricultural sectors can be

transformative in the response to climate change, and a driver for achieving the 2030 Agenda

for Sustainable Development.

Developing countries will take the lead in implementing their nationally determined

contributions (NDCs). The international community has committed to support them in doing

so, as well as adhere to the reporting requirements of the Paris Agreement and enhance

ambition in future NDC cycles. Support for the agricultural sectors should be a priority for the

international community given their prominence in the INDCs and their potential to enhance

adaptation and mitigation ambition.

FAO has developed this paper, The agricultural sectors in nationally determined contributions

(NDCs): Priority areas for international support, to guide the international community when

delivering this support. This paper builds on FAO’s study, The Agriculture Sectors in the Intended

Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs): Analysis. It identifies common challenges that

are preventing developing countries from achieving their commitments and ambitions in the

agricultural sectors, as well as the types of support that are required to address them. These are

clustered into five intervention areas:

1. Compliance with the enhanced transparency framework of the Paris Agreement

2. Coherent policy frameworks for climate action in the agricultural sectors

3. Research, analysis and tools

4. Capacity development for implementation and action in the agricultural sectors

5. Investment for the development of the agricultural sectors

The global community must rapidly scale up support in these areas. International organizations,

technical agencies, financial institutions and other actors must work closely with developing

countries to mount a coordinated response to these challenges.