Why in news?

India communicated strong objections to discussions under a special UNFCCC effort known as the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture, that sought to expand efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouses gases to the agriculture sector.

Highlights:

• The Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) is a landmark decision recognizing the unique potential of agriculture in tackling climate change.
• Established : At the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP) in Fiji in 2017
• Parent Organization : The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• This decision addresses six interrelated topics on soils, nutrient use, water, livestock, methods for assessing adaptation, and the socio-economic and food security dimensions of climate change across the agricultural sectors.
• The decision resonates with FAO’s core mandate to eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, reduce rural poverty, and make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable.

Why India is opposing its decision?

• Agriculture emission is not “luxury” emissions but “survival” emissions of the poor and world is facing a climate crisis today because of the excessive historic cumulative emissions by the developed nations.
• With this agreement the developed countries are blocking a pro-poor, pro-farmer decision by insisting on expanding the scope for mitigation in agriculture, thereby compromising the very foundation of food security in the world