The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a multilateral treaty adopted in 1992. It aims to keep greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere stable. This would help prevent dangerous changes to the climate caused by human activities.
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the world’s premier forum for action on climate change. Countries meet annually to assess global efforts in achieving the objectives set out in the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement.
DAFF in the UNFCCC
The Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) leads Australia’s engagement in the UNFCCC. DAFF leads Australia’s negotiations in the UNFCCC agriculture workstream – the Sharm el Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security.
Our agricultural negotiators meet with negotiators from other countries throughout the year in the lead up to COP, including annual climate talks in Bonn, Germany.
Register on DCCEEW’s UNFCCC engagement hub for more information on the Australian Government’s involvement in the UNFCCC.
Future COPs
Learn more about what’s planned for COP30 and our current bid to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific.
COP30 will be held in Belem, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November 2025.
As the host country, Brazil have organised COP30 into 6 thematic areas covering mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation. Two of the thematic areas and their objectives are:
- Transforming Agriculture and Food Systems
- land restoration and sustainable agriculture
- more resilient adaptive, and sustainable food systems
- equitable access to adequate food and nutrition for all.
- Stewarding Forests, Oceans and Biodiversity
- investments to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation
- efforts to conserve, protect and restore nature and ecosystems with solutions for climate, biodiversity and desertification
- efforts to preserve and restore oceans and coastal ecosystems.
Brazil have also announced an AgriZone will feature throughout COP30, bringing together public and private sector to share experiences in promoting sustainable agriculture and food security.
Like previous COPs, Australia intends to send an official delegation to represent the country.
See more information about the COP30.
We are committed to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific in 2026.
Our bid has received strong support from Pacific leaders, as well as international and Australian partners.
If our bid is successful, hosting COP31 would help:
- accelerate global climate action
- attract investment and collaboration for Australian and Pacific business and industry
- highlight the climate impacts already affecting our region.
This is also an opportunity to showcase our agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector on the global stage.
Read more about Australia’s bid to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific.
Past COPs
See more of our outcomes and event videos from past UNFCCC conferences.
COP29 was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024.
Outcomes for agriculture
COP29 provided an opportunity to share our experience internationally, build capacity in our region and develop partnerships to support our farmers. We also used COP29 to:
- encourage practices tailored to the ecological, cultural and economic conditions of each country by promoting a ‘no one-size-fits-all’ approach
- showcase climate-smart agricultural innovation at our Pavilion and beyond, including during the thematic day on food, agriculture and water
- host a networking event in the Pacific’s Moana Pavilion to mark World Fisheries Day
- welcome the launch of the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers.
Learn more
COP28 was held in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, from 30 November to 13 December 2023.
Outcomes for agriculture
We endorsed the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate action. To date, more than 160 countries have signed up to the landmark agriculture, food and climate action declaration, committing to integrate food into their climate plans by 2025.
We also participated in the thematic day on food, agriculture and water with panel events on sustainable food systems, the role of livestock in meeting global climate and food security goals, and sustainability frameworks.
Learn more
COP27 was held in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, from 6 to 20 November 2022.
Outcomes for agriculture
Parties adopted a decision to establish the Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security. This 4-year joint work includes the implementation of outcomes of the previous work program, Koronivia joint work on agriculture.
The Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) initiative was launched by the COP27 Presidency through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAST is a multi-stakeholder partnership that aims to ‘accelerate the transformation of agriculture and food systems by 2030 for people, climate, and nature.
International climate initiatives
We are committed to ensuring the global conversation on climate-smart agriculture remains prominent in international fora. We have joined and endorsed several international climate initiatives that relate to agriculture, forestry and food systems. These include:
- International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA)
- Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership (FCLP)
- Global Research Alliance (GRA)
- Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C)
- Global Methane Pledge (GMP)
- Glasgow Agriculture Breakthrough Agenda
- Coalition on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation (SPG Coalition)
- Global Soil Partnership
- Pacific Soil Partnership
See more
- Australia’s international climate action
- For more information, please contact international.strategy@aff.gov.au.