Paris, January 2, 2024. Dear all,

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), held from November 30 to December 13 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, over 130 states signed the United Arab Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action. The vulnerability of agricultural systems to climate change and their responsibility for these changes are both recognized by the signatory states. However, no mention is made of the dominance of the conventional agricultural system and its dependence on pesticides. And yet, in the name of sustainability, this dependence must be cured. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022), in which states committed to “to reduce the overall risk from pesticides by at least half”, is nevertheless cited. Moreover, the Declaration is not legally binding. We will have to wait until the end of 2024, when the first review will take place, to assess the implementation by signatory states of the objectives set out in the declaration.

Wishing you a very happy 2024 (and, of course, a successful application of Kunming-Montreal and the UAE Declaration to all States)!

The Justice Pesticides team

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