In preparation for climate negotiations at the 30th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Brazil, 16 Asia-Pacific countries[1] convened in Bangkok, Thailand, to accelerate the development and implementation of NDC 3.0, ensuring agrifood systems are fully integrated into climate commitments. Held from March 5 to 7, 2025, the Advancing Climate Ambition in the Agrifood Sector: Workshop on NDC 3.0 and COP30 Preparation in Asia-Pacific provided a platform for countries to exchange knowledge, refine strategies, and drive momentum toward the timely submission of enhanced NDCs ahead of COP30.
Co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Mekong Institute (MI), the workshop was also a coming together of key development partners, including the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, the NDC Partnership, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), CABI, CGIAR, and the ASEAN Climate Resilience Network (ASEAN-CRN).
Speaking with one voice
NDCs or Nationally Determined Contributions, as defined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), represent countries’ efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. At the workshop’s opening session at the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) in Bangkok, Mrs. Nitipa Worrapantrakul, Director of the Division of Technology Agricultural Resources and Environment Economic Research at Thailand’s Office of Agricultural Economics, explained that “This workshop aims to bridge the gap between policy and action, ensuring that agrifood systems are integral to NDC 3.0.” She also stressed the importance of regional solidarity in advancing climate action.
Mr. Robert Simpson, Deputy Regional Representative of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, highlighted the power of coordinated advocacy. “By speaking with one voice, we can advocate more effectively for the resources, technology transfer, and capacity-building needed to implement our NDCs and climate ambitions.” He added that agrifood systems are central to the region’s climate goals, as they are both a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change.
In a recorded video message, Ms. Felicitas Roehrig, Senior Policy Advisor at BMZ, echoed these sentiments, stressing that a strong common voice is essential for advancing an ambitious regional climate agenda, particularly in light of declining international cooperation and finance. “The political momentum built around transforming agriculture and food systems since COP27 is an opportunity we must seize. The revision of NDCs is an important chance to integrate low-emission and climate-resilient agriculture and food systems.”
Leveraging data and science for climate solutions
Seeking to deliver impactful solutions, Dr. Jongsoo Shin, Regional Director for Asia, IRRI, emphasized in a keynote the critical role of science in achieving climate ambitions. “At COP29, many spoke about policy, but few mentioned the value of science… We are not doing research for research’s sake—we are doing research to create real solutions for farmers,” Dr. Shin stated. “The value of science is in providing farmers with tools for sustainable income—not just theory, but action.”
Stressing that data-driven decision-making is key, Dr. Shin said that science must offer practical solutions to help farmers adapt to storms, droughts, and other risks to their livelihoods. He said that farmers need real-time information to anticipate these multiple climate challenges.
Scaling up investment and finance for climate action
Dr. Stefanos Fotiou, Director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, emphasized the need for greater investment in climate resilience. “We need to see countries investing in climate resilience and farming systems… to drive real transformation,” he said.
Dr. Fotiou added that the next step in driving transformation is making countries the primary agents of change by integrating health, nutrition, climate, and food security into national policies. He called for improved financial mechanisms to ensure funding reaches the communities that need it most. “Many small projects that truly need funding struggle to access it. We must design projects that start from real needs, ensuring finance reaches those who need it most.”
Sharing the outcomes of COP29 and the outlook for the agrifood system at COP30, Ms. Imelda Bacudo, advisor at FAO, noted that while the demand for climate investment amounts to trillions of dollars, the recent climate finance agreement was only at USD 300 billion. “The world is uncertain—even tomorrow, things can change—but we must continue pushing for increased investments in sustainable agriculture.”
Enhancing implementation through peer learning
Mr. Beau Damen, Natural Resources Officer for Climate Change and Climate Finance at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, explained that the workshop sought to deepen understanding of agrifood systems’ role in driving ambition, inclusivity, and transparency in climate commitments. It also provided countries with guidance on enhancing and implementing NDC 3.0 ambition targets by integrating agrifood priorities into NDCs and COP30 discussions. Building participants’ capacity for effective climate negotiations was another objective of the event.
To this end, and to foster a dynamic space for peer learning, a key feature of the three-day workshop was country poster presentations on lessons learned from the NDC 2.0 process. Participants reflected on NDC implementation through these presentations, exploring cross-learning opportunities and potential partnerships. They identified common challenges and best practices in NDC implementation, such as the use of innovative tools, engaging the private sector, and the inclusion of gender-responsive and farmer-centric targets.
[1]Workshop delegates included NDC and climate policy focal points from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture or its equivalent offices from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Thailand, and Vietnam.