A farmer working the land in Mozambique. In the RECEIPT programme, Solidaridad is the leading societal partner on agriculture and food.
RECEIPT is an EU-funded research programme which looks into REmote Climate Effects and Impacts on European sustainability, Policy and Trade (RECEIPT), launched in October 2019. In this research programme, climate scientists, civil society actors and communication experts join forces to make climate science easily available and accessible by using digital visualization and supporting storylines. This research will help to identify hotspot regions for critical sectors which the European Union is highly dependent on. Based on this intelligence, more targeted advice can be brought forward to support climate action, both by public and private actors.
RECEIPT focuses on five key sectors to reveal how climate extremes in remote areas affect the European economy.
The role of Solidaridad in RECEIPT
For Solidaridad this partnership is a unique opportunity to tap into the latest intelligence on climate risks and climate impacts. At the same time, we contribute our expertise about the global agri-food sector, with a specific focus on key commodities for European consumption and trade, such as soy, cocoa and oil palm, and their associated sustainability challenges. Furthermore, Solidaridad as a global network brings local realities of climate change to the table by connecting with colleagues and experts across the globe who work directly with producers and companies in various regions, thus providing an important counterbalance to the EU-centred research focus.
The role of Solidaridad as societal partner in the RECEIPT programme is to facilitate the engagement with external stakeholders such as policy makers, companies and civil society organizations to ensure that their questions, concerns and ideas feed into the work of RECEIPT. What information are they looking for? What do they need to better understand climate risks and impact? Solidaridad is the leading societal partner for the work package on agriculture and food. Each of the 5 sectors (please see the RECEIPT infographic above) has a societal partner facilitating this stakeholder engagement, which is a critical part of the process to ensure the societal relevance of RECEIPT.
Cocoa farmers in West Africa collect the yield. Farmers and producers in the agricultural sector around the world are the first to experience climate impact and therefore an essential voice in the discussion on tackling climate change.
Global climate action can’t wait
We know climate change is real; now we need to know how to deal with it. Climate change is not something happening far away, sometime in the future, and there is no escape from its risks and impacts. We need to stretch our imagination of climate risks, as it is more than an extreme weather event, like a hurricane or a flood. Climate change combines changing weather patterns with increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events which lead to both short-term shocks and long-term changes in our environment, affecting both society and economy.
Wherever disaster strikes, rivers run dry and land becomes unsuitable for production, the impact extends beyond the locality. We are connected across the globe through international relations, trade and a moral commitment to solidarity and sustainability. If we face these facts, we can anticipate change, take responsibility and invest in opportunities.The climate crisis requires a collective response at a global level, but with very region-specific, concrete actions. The RECEIPT programme can inform local action by highlighting regional hotspots and sector-specific vulnerabilities, and speaking to stakeholder realities.
Coffee farmers at work. Climate change has a huge impact on the production of coffee as well as the resulting livelihoods of coffee farmers. Photo credits: H. Michell Leon
Solidaridad is already actively seeking partnerships with producers and companies to address climate risks and invest in adaptation. Moreover, we engage with governments to operationalize climate action in the field by supporting climate-smart agriculture, including diversification strategies, natural resource management and ecological restoration. Future findings of RECEIPT research will provide more evidence and guidance to support our efforts and channel much needed investments.
Are you interested to learn more about RECEIPT and the sectoral work packages? Check out the website: https://climatestorylines.eu/.
Are you a professional in the agri-food sector and keen to share your questions and concerns? Please get in touch and contribute directly to our ongoing stakeholder engagement.
Contact person: Katie Minderhoud, Knowledge Management and Learning Advisor, Solidaridad Europe
Email: katie.minderhoud@solidaridadnetwork.org