Climate-Smart Agriculture Policies for Food Security and Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive review of climate-smart agriculture policies and their role in promoting food security and environmental sustainability. We take a global perspective, comparing policy approaches in different regions (such as Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia) to illustrate how CSA is being implemented in diverse contexts. We focus on recent policy developments from 2015 to 2024, a period of intensifying efforts to align agriculture with climate goals. A range of policy instruments are examined – including financial incentives and subsidies, climate risk insurance schemes, land-use planning and regulatory frameworks, and market-based mechanisms like carbon credits – to understand how each tool contributes to CSA objectives. Where relevant, we include case studies that highlight on-the-ground outcomes of these policies, illustrating successes and challenges.