To help the agricultural industry adapt to climate change, a joint UAE-US fund has been quadrupled to $8 billion.

Mariam Al Mheiri, the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Tom Vilsack, the US Agriculture Secretary, announced at Cop27 that the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (Aim for Climate) has mobilised an additional $4 billion since its launch last year to create more resilient agriculture and food systems.

The money will be used on initiatives that will assist people escape poverty while also preparing for and mitigating the effects of climate change. Additionally, Aim for Climate works to aid communities in low- and middle-income nations who are most vulnerable to global climate change, as well as small-scale farmers, particularly women.

Regarding the partnership with the US, Ms. Al Mheiri said, "We wanted to collaborate with a strong one." On both sides, there is political will as well.

The organisation Aim for Climate wants to increase the use of aquaculture, hydroponics, and vertical farming. According to Ms. Almheiri, the UAE has demonstrated how technology and ingenuity can be used to cultivate crops that were previously unthinkable in the nation.

According to Ms. Al Mheiri, "closed environment agriculture," also known as vertical farming, will be vital in the years to come since it enables nations to grow fruit and vegetables much more sustainably by recirculating water, using renewable energy, and avoiding harmful pesticides.

When that happens, a whole domino effect of behaviour change begins as people start shopping locally and start sourcing food with less carbon footprint.

As it accounts for around 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions, agriculture is an essential component of the fight against climate change. Global food security is also in jeopardy since crops are vulnerable to changing temperatures and severe weather.

More than 275 government and non-government organisations, including corporations, academic institutions, non-profit organisations, think tanks, and others, now endorse Aim for Climate.

At the fund's debut last year, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change, said, "Aim for Climate is focusing on a sector that has been ignored in terms of the opportunity it presents for global climate action."

This programme "showcases the UAE's comprehensive and all-inclusive approach to climate change."

The statements were made the same day that US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Sharm El Sheikh to speak at the climate summit.