The French Republic on Sustainable Agricultural Practices and Climate Change Amidst Global

Conflicts
Position Paper for the United Nations General Assembly

The world finds itself at a critical juncture as the impacts of climate change unfold on the global
stage more than ever. These challenges are compounded by environmental degradation and humanitarian
crises due to geopolitical conflicts, rippling through the areas of food security and access to clean water
and sanitation. The United Nations Security Council (2024, Resolution SC/15589) reported that nearly
174 million people were subjected to acute food insecurity in 2022, driven largely by the coupled impacts
of climate change and conflict. Despite recent global measures, a report on the Global Stocktake by the
UN Climate Change Conference (2023) highlights that “the world is not on track to meet the long-term
goals set out in the Paris Agreement for limiting global temperature rise”. As a permanent member of the
Security Council, France stands resolute in addressing these issues through the mobilization of
multilateral climate funds and initiatives in pursuit of international peace and resilience.

In 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21, stipulating that nations must limit global
warming to 1.5–2°C and submit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) every five years to
detail their emission reduction efforts. To extend this to the context of vulnerable demographics, the
Green Climate Fund was designated as the primary financial mechanism under the accord to mainstream
sustainable investment projects geared towards mitigation and adaptation efforts in response to climate
change. France has a seat on this Board and co-chaired it for two years in a row and continues to be a
frontliner of the Agreement, pledging €1.6 Billion for 2024-2027, making it the largest amount since the
Fund was created and France as one of the leading contributors. Furthermore, France launched One Planet
Movement in partnership with the United Nations and the World Bank to support financial institutions in
promoting tangible solutions for a low-carbon economy. Its commitment to environmental preservation
and capacity-building within the UN bodies and its subsidiary organs is also revealed through projects
like the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact This summit addresses systemic inequalities in climate
finance by fostering solidarity with the Global South, aiming to alleviate poverty and accelerate economic
decarbonization by 2050. Through these initiatives, France is not only contributing financially but also
fostering global partnerships that prioritize sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation.

Despite the advent of global measures aimed at advancing climate action, very few are explicitly
tailored to address the vulnerabilities of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing
States (SIDS), and developing nations in the Global South who indubitably bear most of the brunt of
climate change. Recognizing this disparity, France seeks to leverage its leadership to propose a more
tailored financial mechanism through a Global South Resilience Fund (GSRF) that provides financial
resources and institutional support to the most vulnerable nations for them to implement climate-resilient
solutions. Under this framework, France looks highly upon the integration of Climate Adaptation Bonds
(CABs), a form of green bonds that align with the EU Green Bond Standard but are more attuned to
vulnerable nations and cater more to high-impact climate projects–water resource management, urban
climate-proofing initiatives, sustainable agricultural development, and renewable energy systems.
Complementing this, Debt-for-Climate Swaps will offer debt relief and address discal constraints of
LDCs and SIDs in exchange for commitments to invest in climate adaptation and mitigation projects.
France will work through bilateral and international agreements to ensure these mechanisms are tailored
to the specific needs of each country, streamlining investments in the most at-risk nations through
partnerships with the World Bank, IMF, and especially Green Climate Fund (GCF). To further improve its
prospects, France favors the use of blended finance which combines public funds with private
investments to subsidize interest rates and offer concessional financing to LDCs and SIDS, allowing them
to implement more without losing too much. By aligning these with the goals of the Paris Agreement and
the Sustainable Development Goals, France reaffirms its commitment to equitable climate action by
empowering the climate finance ecosystem for vulnerable nations towards a sustainable future.
 Bibliography

[1] Climate Action Can Help Fight Hunger, Avoid Conflicts, Official Tells Security Council, Urging

Greater Investment in Adaptation, Resilience, Clean Energy | Meetings Coverage and Press

Releases. https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15589.doc.htm. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

[2] COP21: The Key Points of the Paris Agreement. France Diplomacy - Ministry for Europe and

Foreign Affairs,

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/climate-and-environment/the-fight-aga

inst-climate-change/2015-paris-climate-conference-cop21/cop21-the-paris-agreement-in-four-k

ey-points/. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

[3] Financing: A Key Issue in the Fight against Climate Change. France Diplomacy - Ministry for

Europe and Foreign Affairs,

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/climate-and-environment/the-fight-aga

inst-climate-change/financing-the-fight-against/. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

[4] Summit for a New Global Financing Pact: towards more commitments to meet the 2030 Agenda?

Focus 2030,

https://focus2030.org/Summit-for-a-New-Global-Financing-Pact-towards-more-commitments-t

o-meet-the. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

[5] The One Planet Movement. France Diplomacy - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs,

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/climate-and-environment/the-fight-aga

inst-climate-change/the-one-planet-movement/. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

[6] The Paris Agreement. (2015). United Nations Climate Change Conference. United Nations

Climate Change Conference. Retrieved November 20, 2024, from

https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/english_paris_agreement.pdf

[7] Window to Reach Climate Goals ‘Rapidly Closing’, UN Report Warns | UN News. 8 Sept. 2023,

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/09/1140527.