This report is aimed at readers who seek to build economic evidence in support of the inclusion of actions on agriculture in climate change plans and programmes, particularly at the national level under the umbrella of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to the December 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to restrict
a rise in global temperatures and manage risks.
Agriculture is a sector especially sensitive to climate change. It also accounts for significant emissions and is, therefore, a priority for both adaptation and mitigation plans and actions at global, national and local levels. The majority of NDCs, which are voluntary national submissions for post-2020 action under the Paris Agreement, express national-level intentions for action on adaptation and mitigation in agriculture: 84 per cent of intended NDCs propose mitigation actions in agriculture and land-use sectors and 92 per cent of intended NDC adaptation plans prioritize agriculture. However, economic assessment and financial analysis of
agriculture in NDCs, and in related plans like national adaptation plans (NAPs), are weakly developed to date. Credible economic and financial proposals with a high likelihood of delivering meaningful returns are needed to unleash large-scale public and private investment in agriculture under climate change.
Globally, there is a strong economic case to invest in agriculture for future food security and rural livelihoods under climate change.