Minister for Africa Vicky Ford made her first visit to Côte d'Ivoire this week to attend the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Conference of the Parties (COP) 15.
Minister Ford was the first British Minister ever to participate at the event, demonstrating the UK's commitment to ensuring the promises made at COP26 in Glasgow are delivered.
Minister Ford met Ministers from around the world to discuss sustainable solutions to the interconnected issues of land degradation and climate change.
The Minister set out the progress made at COP26 under UK leadership, in particular on advancing gender equality through climate finance programmes, but warned of the severe impact of drought and other climate shocks on women and girls.
The Minister focused her speech at the conference on the growing international support for the Agricultural Breakthrough agreed at COP26, with four new countries declaring support for the initiative.
The Agriculture Breakthrough was one of the five 'Glasgow Breakthroughs' agreed at COP26 to accelerate the innovation and deployment of clean technologies across key industries.
Concluding her visit, Minister for Africa Vicky Ford said:
I am delighted to have made my first visit to Côte d'Ivoire and to be the first UK Minister to attend a UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP event.
I've seen the breadth of partnership between governments to improve the lives of those most affected by the disastrous impact climate change is having on agriculture.
This includes the impressive progress accelerating the deployment of clean energy technologies across the agriculture sector, delivering the Agriculture Breakthrough agreed by leaders at COP26 in Glasgow.
I congratulate the Ivorian government on their leadership in hosting this important event, and look forward to continuing conversations on our shared interests.
Minister Ford also met with Ivorian ministers, civil society and business representatives to discuss the importance of shared inclusive growth, regional security and Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
Background
- The countries which have endorsed the Agriculture Breakthrough are Belgium, Japan, Latvia and the UAE.
- The UK is the COP26 President on climate change and Côte d'Ivoire is the President of the COP15 on desertification.
