UN Food Systems Summit+2 Stocktaking Moment |28 July 2023
Minister Joubert in the company of Stefanos Fotiou, the director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub
Minister Joubert attends high-level summit in Rome
The Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change & Environment, Flavien Joubert, attended the UN Food Systems Summit +2 (UNFSS+2) Stocktaking Moment held from July 24 – 26, 2023 at the premises of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy.
This high-level event brought together close to 2000 participants in-person, from 161 countries, including 22 heads of state and government, more than 100 ministerial delegates, and over 150 non-state-actor organisations as well as the UN systems and other international organisations.
The UNFSS+2 Stocktaking Moment featured a comprehensive programme, including a high-level opening segment, three high-level sessions, four plenary sessions, leadership dialogues, special events and side events.
The discussions culminated in a Call to Action, identifying key priority areas for global focus over the next two years, including actions towards the actualisation of policies leveraging food systems for better, more inclusive, and sustainable outcomes; mobilising financing for the transition; building knowledge and capacity among food systems actors; enhancing global, regional and national collaboration for climate action; increasing access to science, technology and innovation; and advancing education, opportunities for decent jobs and social protection.
On the second day (July 25), a high-ministerial meeting entitled ‘Healthy and Protected Oceans: for a Sustainable, Equal and Prosperous Future’, hosted by the government of Italy, consisted of two in-depth sessions that delve into the topics of adapting to changing oceans, the protection of natural and cultural heritage, blue economies and the nexus among food, energy and innovation. This meeting shed light on the challenges faced by small island development states (Sids) in relation to both food security and climate change.
Pursuant to this objective, the government of Italy has invited several Sids representatives to act as panellists throughout the sessions of the UNFSS+2 Stocktaking Moment.
Minister Joubert participated in one plenary session which explored the challenges and opportunities related to blue economies taking into account different perspectives within Sids, Italy and the EU.
Minister Joubert delivered a concise overview of the blue economy, emphasising the vast ocean resources found in Sids. These valuable resources have the power to fuel economic expansion, effectively tackling issues of food insecurity and poverty.
He also highlighted the difficulties associated with blue economies, including inadequate marine policies, ineffective ocean governance, marine pollution, climate change, and unsustainable practices like illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
He enthusiastically presented the various opportunities associated with the blue economies, highlighting how they can attract investment capital through innovative financing mechanisms such as the Blue bond. This, in turn, has the potential to foster economic growth and promote sustainability goals.
He provided an illustration to demonstrate how Seychelles has embraced the Debt for Nature Swap initiative, which seeks to redirect foreign debt and enhance fiscal flexibility.
Lastly, he stressed the vital links between research and developing effective approaches to address challenges, ultimately facilitating novel solutions for the sustainable utilisation of ocean resources.
Other than the Food Systems Summit, the minister conducted one side meeting with Stefanos Fotiou, the director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and with some other delegates.
This high ministerial meeting was hosted by Italy, in collaboration with the Rome-based UN agencies (FAO, IFAD, WFP), the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and the wider UN system.
Press release from the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change & Environment