APF Executive Committee adopts Can Tho Declaration on sustainable agriculture
VOV.VN - The Francophone Parliamentary Forum (APF) Executive Committee unanimously adopted the Can Tho Declaration on Francophone Cooperation in Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security, and Climate Change Adaptation, during its close session in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on January 24.
The declaration encourages Francophone parliamentarians and member parliaments to take stronger actions and foster closer cooperation in addressing climate change, promoting sustainable agricultural development to ensure food security. It highlights the need to improve legal systems, policy frameworks, and strategic directions to support climate change adaptation goals. It also emphasizes creating momentum and collaborating with member governments in climate action, in line with the objectives and principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, relevant agreements, and the practical conditions of Francophone member states and territories.
The declaration encourages closer cooperation between parliaments and governments in implementing joint initiatives, sharing experiences and best practices, enhancing capacity-building, transferring technology, and promoting research, development, and the application of solutions to advance sustainable agriculture while improving the resilience and adaptability of global food and agricultural systems to climate change.
It also urges member states and territories of the Francophone community to create an enabling environment for fostering education, innovation, and the application of scientific and technological advancements in promoting sustainable agricultural development and ensuring food security in response to climate change.
The declaration asks for efforts to strive for sustainable agriculture adapted to climate change and to ensure global food security through the adoption of appropriate farming technologies and sustainable resource management practices. This includes supporting research and development, fostering innovation, advancing digital transformation, and empowering farmers with knowledge and tools.
The document calls on member states and territories to continue refining policies, programmes, strategies, and initiatives to address climate change, promote sustainable agriculture, and ensure food security, by advancing a just energy transition, encouraging the establishment of green financial mechanisms, fostering the application of new and sustainable technologies, and facilitating access to and transfer of such technologies in agricultural development.
It also urges parliaments, through their legislative and oversight activities on climate issues at regional, national, and local levels, to focus on supporting vulnerable groups, including women and children, affected by the consequences of climate change. In addition, the declaration highlights the importance of empowering youth to play an active role in implementing national initiatives and contributing to the collective efforts of the Francophone community.
The Can Tho Declaration also welcomes Vietnam’s initiative in organizing the Francophone Parliamentary Forum, and further encourages similar initiatives by other member parliaments of the Francophone community.
