What is COP27?
COP27 is the 27th meeting of the UN Climate Change Conference, which brings together heads of state, academics and a host of organisations and businesses from around the world to discuss and negotiate measures to tackle climate change. COP27 aims to becomes the moment when the world moves from negotiation to implementation and where words are translated into actions.
This year’s host is Egypt, and as such the event was held in Sharm El Sheikh, from 6 to 18 November.
Read more information on the Sharm Climate Change Conference and the Egyptian government’s work as host.
The UK continues to show leadership on tackling climate change with the new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, in attendance at COP27, joining other world leaders including the Presidents of France, the European Commission, South Africa, and Ireland.
His Majesty King Charles III will also held a reception on 4 November to mark the summit.
How we're representing British farmers
The NFU has represented British farmers and the wider farmers’ constituency at every COP since 2015. We were there when the Paris Accord was agreed. The terms ‘food security’ and ‘food production’ both made it into the final agreement, much to the satisfaction of farmers across the world.
This year we were promoting the work farmers are doing to produce climate-friendly food, highlighting how severe weather is affecting farming and the impact that the energy crisis is having on farm businesses.
NFU Cymru President Aled Jones also spoke during the conference about the critical need for finance and investment in the sector, and to show our willingness to work with farmers across the world to improve agriculture’s climate credentials.
Dates for your diary
Agriculture had a much higher profile at COP27 than it did at COP26.
World leaders arriving in Sharm for the start of the conference debated food security at one of many roundtables. Designated agricultural and food system days were held on 11, 12 and 14 November which saw a large number of relevant events and discussions.
Read a roundup of last year's COP26
In 2021, Glasgow played host to COP26, an event which resulted in nearly 200 countries signing the Glasgow Climate Pact.
Read our roundup from weeks 1 & 2
This year really did prove to be the year of Implementation, with the final decisions wrapped up in the Sharm El Sheikh Implementation Plan. COP27 proved to be a historic conference for farmers, with the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture agreeing the ‘Joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security’. BAB (British Agriculture Bureau) Senior European Policy Adviser, Jenny Brunton, gives her analysis on what the final agreement means for farmers.
Young farmers leading the way
“Food security is relatable to everyone and being able to highlight key topics such as soil health and resilience, livestock integration and improving biodiversity, in addition to sequestering carbon, fell on passionate and interested ears. It is quite obvious to see that young people are incredibly passionate about climate change and have a keen interest to learn about every sector and how each one can help to address the climate crisis."
Young farmer and NFU member, James Johnson, represented British farming at the 17th climate COY (Conference of Youth) which brings young people together before the COP starts.
Over the past year, the NFU has worked hard to ensure that James will be first young farmer to speak about agriculture and food at a COY.
James was also part of the NFU delegation at COP26, held in Glasgow last year. Read about his experience of meeting with delegates around the world and why he thinks it's vital for farmers' voices to be a part of the conversation.