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Evaluation at FAO

Malamawa, Niger

Evaluation of FAO’s contribution to climate change adaptation and mitigation

Climate change threatens our ability to ensure global food security, eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activity and livestock are a significant driver of climate change, trapping heat in the earth's atmosphere and triggering global warming.

Climate change has both direct and indirect effects on agricultural productivity including changing rainfall patterns, drought, flooding and the geographical redistribution of pests and diseases. The vast amounts of CO₂ absorbed by the oceans causes acidification, influencing the health of our oceans and those whose livelihoods and nutrition depend on them. FAO is supporting countries to both mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change through a wide range of research based and practical programmes and projects, as an integral part of the 2030 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

This evaluation examined FAO’s contribution to climate change adaptation and mitigation from 2009 to 2014, with selected case studies from 11 countries. It noted that the advanced analytical tools and data of FAO and its support to national climate change strategy development processes have helped to strengthen developing country efforts for climate change adaptation and mitigation. It pointed out, however, the lack of an organization-wide strategy on climate change and the need to improve the capacity of FAO to engage with host governments at country level. It recommends that FAO prepare a crosscutting corporate climate change strategy that will guide its work in this area and integrate regional and country priorities. It also recommends that FAO improve climate change adaptation and mitigation mainstreaming in all of its work, integrate capacity development and gender in climate initiatives, enhance the position of its country offices in national climate dialogues, and expand its partnerships.