MOBILISING CLIMATE FINANCE FOR AGRICULTURE: AMBASSADOR NAFO COMMENDS JAPAN’S MULTI-SECTOR LEADERSHIP MODEL

At COP30, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) convened governments, financial institutions, and leading agri-food companies to spotlight a growing global priority: mobilizing climate finance to transform agriculture and the livestock sector.

Dubbed “Mobilizing Climate Finance for Agriculture through Multi-Sector Collaboration,” the session showcased practical pathways for scaling low-carbon agricultural solutions through stronger alignment of policy, technology, and capital.

Opening the session, Osamu Kubota, Deputy Assistant Minister at MAFF, emphasized the urgent need to correct a longstanding imbalance—although agriculture and livestock account for 22% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the sector receives only 4% of total climate finance.

Kubota highlighted Japan’s leadership in bridging this gap through MIDORI INFINITY, an initiative designed to mobilize public and private finance to decarbonize global agri-food systems. Through the MIDORI Decarbonisation Overseas Deployment Consortium, Japan is helping expand markets for innovative agri-technologies that deliver higher farm productivity, reduced emissions, and greater resilience.

“Proven technologies already exist,” Kubota noted. “Our task now is to scale them through stronger collaboration among governments, investors, and the private sector.”

During a moderated discussion, panelists emphasised:

• De-risking agricultural climate investments through coordinated policies, blended finance, and standards such as Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV);

• Ensuring farmers benefit directly from climate finance through transparent incentive structures that reward emissions reductions; and

• Replicating Japan’s multi-sector model, which integrates policy, finance, and technology to accelerate decarbonisation.

Agriculture Must Become Central in Global Climate Finance

In his closing remarks, Ambassador Seyni Nafo, Co-Chair of the Green Climate Fund, noted the importance of ensuring agriculture becomes central in global climate finance due to its livelihood supporting role for rural communities.

Ambassador Nafo, who is also Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) TSU Coordinator, praised Japan’s leadership and stressed the need for climate funds to sharpen their focus on agriculture.

“Agriculture and food systems are central to achieving both climate and development objectives,” Ambassador Nafo said. “We must set clear guidelines and policy targets for channeling climate finance into this sector. As the GCF enters its next replenishment cycle, this is work we are committed to advancing.”