As part of the 'Race to Zero' campaign, this event gives us the opportunity to join a global debate on how to foster ecosystems of innovation in food, transform agriculture and build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Date: Tuesday, 17 November 2020

Time: 23:00-00:30 (UTC+8)

There has been massive investment in ecosystems of innovation to promote ‘climate-smart’ ways of producing, distributing and consuming food. These are helping to make over 500 million small scale farmers more resilient to the effects of climate change, delivering greater food security for all. But food systems must scale these innovations to accelerate our 'Race to Zero' carbon emissions.

In anticipation of the COP26 summit in Glasgow next year, world leaders charted a new path to a future where we limit climate change. The objective of ‘Race to Zero’ was to build momentum ahead of that summit, amplifying calls for a shift to a decarbonized economy and securing stronger commitments from governments to reach the goals set out by the Paris Climate Agreement. 

The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) hosted this ‘Race to Zero’ dialogue event in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). 

The stakeholders were drawn from across our food systems, including our Chair of Audit & Risk Committee and Action Track Co-Manager for Global Commission on Adaptation, Cristina Rumbaitis del Rio, to reach consensus on priority policies and solutions to drive a more ambitious climate agenda and win the ‘Race to Zero’.

Invited speakers:

  • Ana María Loboguerrero Rodríguez, Head of Global Policy Research, CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture & Food Security (CCAFS)
  • Ann Tutwiler, Coordinator, Policy Action Coalition, Just Rural Transition and Senior Fellow at Meridien Institute
  • Cristina Rumbaitis del Rio, Chair, Audit & Risk Committee and Action Track Co-Manager, Global Commission on Adaptation
  • David Nabarro, Strategic Director 4SD, Special Envoy for COVID-19, World Health Organization and Member of the Advisory Committee, UN Food Systems Summit
  • Martin Frick, Deputy to the Special Envoy, Food Systems Summit, United Nations
  • Nigel Topping, High Level Champion for COP26, UK
  • Paco Sereme, Research Director, National Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters of Burkina Faso (ANSAL-BF)
  • Vel Gnanendran, Director, Environment and Climate UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

Follow the event hashtag #NewEra4Food campaign hashtag #RacetoZero

For more information, visit the official events page.