Towards COP30: Latin American and Caribbean countries train in negotiations to position climate action in agriculture
Regional workshop organized by FAO, PLACA and the Bioversity Alliance & CIAT, seeks to strengthen climate negotiations in agriculture, and accelerate climate action in agri-food systems.
April 30, 2025. Representatives from 15 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean met April 28-30 at the Regional Workshop on Agriculture and Climate Change, promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Platform of Latin America and the Caribbean for Climate Action on Agriculture (PLACA), and the The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.
The purpose of the event is to build the capacity of delegates from ministries of agriculture for the upcoming negotiations. This is of great interest in view of the climate negotiations at the next Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP30 (Belém, 2025), and the SB 62 climate meetings in Bonn.
It also provides a space to promote regional cooperation and accelerate climate action in Latin America's agrifood systems.
In addition to strengthening technical, political and institutional preparedness for the new cycle of updating the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), the space will address topics such as the Enhanced Transparency Framework, Loss and Damage, the Global Adaptation Goal and the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work.
“Agri-food systems have gained prominence in the fight against climate change. The Emirates Declaration, endorsed by 160 world leaders, was a milestone in recognizing their key role in food security and climate resilience. Latin America is called upon to play a leading role in this transition”, explained María Mercedes Proaño, Climate Finance Officer and Coordinator of Better Enviroment.
“With COP30 in Brazil, the region has a unique opportunity to position sustainable agri-food solutions that contribute to the Paris Agreement and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”, added Proaño.
PLACA´s role
The Platform of Latin America and the Caribbean for Climate Action on Agriculture, PLACA, has played an active role in regional capacity building, leading several spaces within the framework of this workshop. To date, this regional cooperation mechanism has trained more than 2,000 people through online courses, including technical staff from ministries and secretariats of agriculture and other professionals, and through virtual technical workshops it has raised awareness of binding issues among more than 45,000 professionals in the region.
In the context of COP30, PLACA becomes the vehicle that supports countries in generating coordination spaces for negotiations on agriculture.
Platform of Latin America and the Caribbean for Climate Action on Agriculture