Agriculture in Europe and Central Asia faces growing risks from climate change, affecting food production, rural livelihoods, and ecosystems. However, the sector also offers significant opportunities to advance low-emission and climate-resilient development. To strengthen regional cooperation and collective climate action, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) convened the Fourth Regional Climate Workshop on Enhancing Climate Action in Agriculture in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 23–24 October 2025. The workshop ran alongside Istanbul Forest Innovation Week and the FAO European Forestry Commission session, promoting collaboration across agriculture, forestry, and climate agendas.
The workshop built on previous UNFCCC COP decisions, including the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, the Santiago Network, and COP28’s Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, while preparing for COP30 in Brazil. Opening remarks emphasized the urgent need for regional action to reduce emissions, strengthen resilience, and promote sustainable agrifood systems. Participants from 16 FAO programme countries explored strategies to integrate agriculture, forestry, and land use into climate frameworks, advance nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and identify regional priorities for climate action.
A review of updated NDC policy analysis revealed that while more countries have set economy-wide emission reduction targets, many struggle to quantify agricultural emissions reductions due to institutional, financial, and technical constraints. Country representatives shared experiences in planning and implementing NDCs, highlighting practical challenges and solutions for achieving the 2025 NDC targets.
The workshop also addressed loss and damage in agrifood systems, focusing on data gaps and alignment of indicators across national adaptation and mitigation strategies. Sessions included presentations from the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and FAO on monitoring progress, the Santiago Network, and the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. Participants from Moldova, Serbia, and Uzbekistan shared their experiences collecting and reporting loss and damage data, followed by group work to explore opportunities for integrating these components into Biannual Transparency Reports and NDCs.
Common challenges identified included limited reliable data, financial constraints, weak interagency coordination, and inadequate legislative frameworks. Participants emphasized the need for capacity building, improved data systems, early warning mechanisms, and methodologies for valuing economic losses. Integration of loss and damage into adaptation plans and access to climate finance mechanisms, such as the GEF, GCF, and Santiago Network, were discussed as key pathways to strengthen reporting and action.
Discussions also covered carbon market mechanisms and other cooperative and non-market approaches under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. A Kazakhstan-based startup showcased forest carbon offset initiatives that generate credits to support business emissions reductions while creating additional income opportunities.
Co-organized with the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, the workshop highlighted the significance of mountain ecosystems and drylands for climate adaptation and food security. Priorities identified for mountain countries included developing national adaptation plans, strengthening NDCs, improving data collection, ensuring water security, preserving glaciers, reversing depopulation trends, and enhancing livelihoods through education, with examples from Georgia, Tajikistan, and Serbia.
The workshop concluded with the identification of regional priorities and opportunities for joint action, reinforcing the shared commitment to sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture and setting the stage for stronger engagement at COP30 in Brazil in November 2025.
