Agriculture Ministers from countries across the Global South launched a major new effort at the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, aimed at drastically reducing methane and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from farming. The initiative, named FIRST (Farmers’ Initiative for Resilient and Sustainable Transformations), is the first coordinated South-South platform of its kind, linking nations across Latin America, Africa, and Asia to share practical, low-cost solutions. The effort is co-led by Brazil and the United Kingdom, with support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).The FIRST Initiative adopts a “what’s in it for farmers” approach, focusing on scaling up existing, proven solutions that boost crop yields, enhance soil and animal health, and lower input costs, all while delivering significant mitigation of non-CO₂ greenhouse gases. The launch directly addresses the warnings from the 2024 Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment that rapid cuts in N₂O—a potent greenhouse gas—are necessary to keep global warming below $1.5^\circ \text{C}$.Complementing FIRST, Brazil and the UK also unveiled the Belém Declaration on Fertilisers, a new Joint Call to Action to accelerate nutrient-use efficiency and cut emissions across the fertilizer value chain. This dual-initiative positions Brazil at the core of the global agenda to transform agriculture from a major climate emitter into a solution, showcasing its leadership in linking food security with climate mitigation and biodiversity protection.
Global South Ministers Launch FIRST Initiative at COP30 to Cut Agricultural Methane and N₂O
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