US President Joe Biden announced the launch of The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), a new initiative led by the US and the United Arab Emirates, at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) on Wednesday in Glasgow, Scotland.
The new climate initiative, announced during the World Leader's Summit at COP26, is backed by more than 40 NGOs and 30 nations worldwide, including Israel, which will participate as a government partner.
AIM for Climate will aspire to invest in climate-smart agricultural and food system initiatives to accelerate climate action around the world.
The field of agriculture is responsible for 25% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.
An investment of $4 billion into the initiative was also announced by Biden as AIM for Climate looks to push for immediate climate action over the next five years.
"The US is proud to be launching the AIM for Climate initiative alongside the UAE and over 80 partners across the globe," said US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry. "Innovation can reduce emissions, feed the world’s growing population, and help farmers and ranchers mitigate and adapt to climate change."
"Investment in climate-smart agriculture innovation is critical to addressing the climate crisis," Kerry said.
Agriculture is a "sector that has been previously overlooked in terms of the opportunities it offers for global climate action," according to Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the UAE's Special Envoy for Climate Change and Industry Minister.
"AIM for Climate is the kind of bold move toward accelerating the global food system's transformation that [realizes] we need to eradicate world hunger by 2030," added UAE Climate Change and Environment Minister Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri.
Along with Israel, AIM for Climate is also supported by Morocco, one of Israel's Abraham Accords partners, as well as some of the world's leading nations such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the UK. It is also supported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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