Climate Change, Food Security and Nutrition
Climate change directly affects food and nutrition security of millions of people, undermining current efforts to address undernutrition and hitting the poorest the hardest, especially women and children. It impacts people’s livelihoods and lifestyles through different pathways. Farmers, pastoralists, forest dwellers and fisherfolk are already facing more challenges in producing and gathering food due to changing weather patterns, such as erratic rains. In the short term the impacts can be linked to extreme weather events which contribute to casualties, household food insecurity, disease and handicap, increased population dislocation and insecurity. In the longer term, climate change affects natural resources and therefore food availability and access, but also environmental health and access to health care. In the most affected areas these long-term impacts eventually can lead to transitory or permanent migration, which often leaves female-headed households behind.
Climate change is therefore seen as a significant “hunger-risk multiplier”. In fact, some forecasts anticipate 24 million additional malnourished children by 2050 – almost half of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Poor health and undernutrition in turn further undermine people’s resilience to climatic shocks and their ability to adapt.
Climate change will exacerbate the crisis of undernutrition through three main causal pathways:
- impacts on household access to sufficient, safe and adequate food;
- impacts on care and feeding practices; and
- impacts on environmental health and access to health services.
Unless severe measures are taken, and countries reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and increase the removal of these gases from the atmosphere, it will be increasingly difficult and expensive to adapt to climate change.
Climate-smart agriculture is one of the solutions that have been proposed to fight climate change. It is an approach that aims at combining food security and development, adaptation to climate change as well as reducing and removing emissions, whenever possible. It will not be an easy task to transform agriculture and food systems so that they would be truly climate-smart, also taking into account nutrition considerations. So far limited attention has been given to the interface between climate change and nutrition and relevant policies, programmes and projects remain by and large disconnected. The Rome Declaration on Nutrition and Framework of Action adopted by the 2nd International Conference on Nutrition in November 2014 recognized “the need to address the impacts of climate change and other environmental factors on food security and nutrition, in particular on the quantity, quality and diversity of food produced, taking appropriate action to tackle negative effects” and recommended to “establish and strengthen institutions, policies, programmes and services to enhance the resilience of the food supply in crisis-prone areas, including areas affected by climate change”.
The objective of this consultation is to gain a better understanding of the impact of climate change on food security and nutrition as well as the impact of current dietary preferences and the related food systems. In addition, we invite you to identify possible measures to protect and/or improve nutrition and to adapt to climate change, while reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions thus ensuring long-term food security.
We are well aware of the richness of relevant knowledge existing around the world and are looking forward to learn from your experience. We would therefore like to invite you to share your views on this thematic area. You may want to consider the following questions:
1) What are the main issues for policy-makers to consider when linking climate change on the one hand and food security and nutrition on the other, in particular when designing, formulating and implementing policies and programmes?
2) What are the key institutional and governance challenges to the delivery of cross-sectoral and comprehensive policies that protect and promote nutrition of the most vulnerable, and contribute to sustainable and resilient food systems?
3) In your experience, what are key best-practices and lessons-learned in fostering cross-sectoral linkages to protect and improve nutrition while preventing, adapting to climate change and reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions in projects?
This consultation is part of the online learning event Climate Change, Food Security and Nutrition, organized jointly by the Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture Programme of FAO and the FSN Forum. You are welcome to join the webinar on Tuesday 31 March 2015 or watch the recordings of the session afterwards (for more information see the web sites: www.fao.org/fsnforum/news/climate-change-FSN and www.fao.org/climatechange/micca/88950/en/).
We look forward to a lively and interesting exchange!
Florence Egal
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>> ENGLISH VERSION BELOW <<
Si on parle de changement climatique, de sécurité alimentaire et de nutrition, il faut prendre le problème au sérieux. Les 7 milliards de personnes sur la planète terre vivent au dépend de l'agriculture. Ma question est de savoir si les agriculteurs mondiaux grèvent, comme sera le monde? Alors il est important de mettre un accent particulier sur l'agriculture qui, à son tour, a besoin d'un climat favorable, d'une terre arable propice et d'une technologie appropriée pour une production plus grande possible pour mettre fin à la faim dans le monde d'ici 2030. L'homme, ayant droit à l'alimentation, à la bonne santé, à la vie et autres, nous oblige à améliorer la production agricole pour assurer la sécurité alimentaire et une bonne nutrition des bébés jusqu'aux personnes âgées en tous lieux sur la terre. Et pour y arriver, il faut une volonté politique, une politique inclusive impliquant tout le monde dans le processus du développement agricole. Il faut un programme agricole soutenu et de bonne nutrition autrement dit une alimentation équilibrée. Il faut libéraliser le secteur agricole avec des coopératives très engagées, il faut déployer ou recruter des ingénieurs agronomes pour des apports techniques et octroyer des crédits agricoles très flexibles accessibles même aux agriculteurs particuliers. Il faut également privilégier les cultures agricoles qui diminuent le dégagement de gaz à effet de serre. Il faut éviter les feux de brousse et protéger les forêts.
Le gouvernement, la société civile, les coopératives, le secteur privé, les paysans sont indiqués dans ce processus.
Pour la protection de la forêt, il faut des activités de sensibilisation des communautés sur le changement climatique et ses conséquences en se basant sur des lois relative à la protection de l'environnement du pays. Il faut recruter des planteurs d'arbres dans la localité pour le reboisement, l'entretien et la protection des arbres, donc des forêts. Il faut changer les moyens de cuisson des membres de la communauté qui dépendaient de l'environnement. Ex: utilization de cuisière solaires.
When talking about climate change, food security and nutrition it is important to take it seriously as 7 billion people on earth are dependent on agriculture. My question is, what will happen to the world if, globally, the farmers were to strike? So, it is important to put a particular accent on farming that, in turn, needs a favorable climate, suitable arable land and appropriate technology in order to produce the best possible harvest and, by 2030, end world hunger. Given the rights of mankind to food, health, life and other rights, we are obliged to improve agricultural production in order to ensure food security and good nutrition for children and the elderly everywhere on earth. To achieve this task, there must be a political determination, an inclusive policy involving everyone in the agricultural development process. There has to be a sustainable program for agriculture and good nutrition, that is to say, a balanced diet. The farming sector has to be freed up with wholly committed cooperatives, agronomists should be deployed or recruited to provide the technology and very flexible agricultural credit should be made available even to individual farmers. At the same time, it is important that priority is given to crops that reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Bushfires must be avoided and woodlands must be protected.
The government, civil society, cooperatives, private sector and peasants all have a part to play in this process.
For the protection of woodlands, there should be community-based actions which raise awareness of climate change and its consequences, depending on the environmental protection laws of the country. Local tree planters must be recruited to regenerate the woodlands, to maintain and protect the trees, and so eventually the forests. The cooking methods of those who depend on the environment need to be changed. For example: by using solar cookers.
A comment to Mr. Häberli’s interesting input to Q 1) What are the main issues for policy-makers to consider when linking climate change on the one hand and food security and nutrition on the other?
Mr. Häberli touches an important point: THE FOCUS. If we look about 20 years back, important gvt. and private agencies supporting smallholders stopped providing their services to such complex and difficult landholdings, in particular in remote/upland areas. Instead during the last ten years focus was put on those being able to produce high value products (hvp). It is nothing but logic that precisely such remote and upland smallholders now urgently need financial smart support to be in a position to adapt to more complex climatic conditions. Therefore, a re-investment in smart joint rural advisory services is key to much complex land and production issues. The private sector will not focus on such difficulties in far remote areas. Therefore leading investments must first come from the public sector
Best regards, Hans Schaltenbrand
Berner Fachhochschule / Bern University of Applied Sciences
Hochschule für Agrar-, Forst- und Lebensmittelwissenschaften HAFL /School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL
Hans Schaltenbrand
Professor for Rural Development and Natural Resources Management
HAFL International Consulting Services
Focusing wastelands for food production through the adoption of agroforestry models suited to the local condition. A very good policy with feasible monitoring indicators is required.
The kitchen garden and home garden shall be popularized through Government programmes.
Creating a space for women groups in the implementation framework at the grassroots level.
At the National Level monitoring shall be done by a group of experts from agricultural sectors, policy makers, representative from NGOs and women groups.
Issues to Consider:
*Low agricultural production outputs despite the continued usage of chemicals in agricultural farms and plantations that also gives rise to the growth of pest-resistant diseases in agricultural crops.
*As the planet has now exceeded 4 out of the 9 planetary boundaries as seen in the Planetary Boundaries Framework of Johan Rockstrom et.al , I believe that policy makers should also re- examine policies towards regulation of the impacts on the usage of chemicals in agricultural farms and plantations. The usage of these chemicals have contributed to the rise of carbon dioxide emissions which is one of the key drivers of climate change. It would be best if there will be promotion of more environment-friendly methods and innovations in agricultural farming.
Despite the usage of these chemicals, it still did not eliminate plant pests and diseases in agricultural farms, . Not only that, but it has contributed to numerous health problems as a result of the usage of these chemicals. Often, the most affected of these are the marginalized sectors of society- the farmers and the Indigenous People.
A big question is that how can ordinary independent farmers have the proper clothing equipment when they use or apply these chemicals in their agricultural farms? When the costs of these chemicals are sometimes taking more than half their salary? This is true for most of the rural communities because of low production outputs in agricultural farms.
* Agricultural food waste that may further aggravate the inequality of food distribution especially coming from agricultural rejects of both export and import industry.
- Poverty and Hunger is a major problem yet there are numerous food rejects coming from the agricultural exports and import industry. The big question is how can the policy- makers address such big issue? Maybe they can create and re-examine policies with regards to this issue.
* The Healthier food choices-inorganic vs. Organic
If we are to combat climate change and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, then it is essential that we also look into healthier ways of consuming food that has more benefits for our own health.
- One of the main issues is the affordability of organic foods in the market. How can it become affordable especially for the developing countries?. In the Philippines, buying organic food is expensive and since it it is expensive, there is lesser demand of it.
* Higher costs of organic certification.
Another issue is that how can the policy-makers help make the certification of products as organic become more affordable?
Numerous studies show that farmers who are into organic farming find it difficult to pursue organic since the certification for organic products is expensive. In particular, how can the independent organic farmers afford to have their products certify as organic?
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) aims at reaching simultaneously sustainable food security, adaptation to climate change and mitigation of climate change. To acheive these objectives, an innovative policy environment is required. The conclusions of the recently organized Climate-smart Agriculture Conference (Montpellier, France, 16-18 March 2015) highlight that policy makers and other stakeholders, especially researchers, must work together to increase local effectiveness and contribute to bridging the gap between agricultural policies and climate finance.
Excerpts from the "Montpellier Statement":
- The support of CSA innovation platforms, which gather policy makers, development
agencies, civil society and the private sector with researchers and research institutions, will increase local effectiveness.
- The gap between climate change and agricultural policies needs to be bridged, in particular in UNFCCC negotiations, as well as linking agriculture and climate change financing instruments.
More info here: http://csa2015.cirad.fr
Dear Florence Egal
first issue:
location specific policy is needed
hype of one particular crop or food should be discouraged
diversity is the key for any security therefore enhance diversity
second issue:
policies to protect common lands and forest bodies including water bodies
the policy should safe gourd land ,actually for each village or dwelling place a recommended amount of common land should be earmarked and use be handed over to local community to manage it for agro eco securities
I am not sure of my contribution to third issue you raised
thank you
Sincerely
B. Salomeyesudas
The Impact of Climate Change and Bioenergy on Nutrition, edited by Brian Thompson and myself, was published by Springer for FAO in 2012. It includes contributions by the editors, M. Cristina Tirado, Noora-Lisa Aberman, and Janice Meerman. The book is accessible at http://www.fao.org/3/a-as502e.pdf.
Ad Q 1) What are the main issues for policy-makers to consider when linking climate change on the one hand and food security and nutrition on the other?
Even/because this is a fiendishly complex issue, focus is essential. I suggest a focus on the weakest link in the food value chain i.e. smallholders in net-food importing developing countries (NFIDC). This requires a self-critical look into the reasons for the failure (i) of smallholders to even feed themselves (ii) of national and international institutions including FAO, IBRD and WTO to lift the inherent smallholder biases in their own policies and practices. The fact that many scholars and even the research arm of the World Bank itself had already identified such biases back in the 1990ies, but never acted on them, speaks long for what is basically a governance failure in many organisations and countries. Regardless of whether we consider climate change as fundamentally different challenge or as an additional factor of uncertainty impacting on global and national food security, it seems to me that without an answer and remedial action in this issue there is little chance for successful climate change mitigation especially in those countries and population groups likely to be affected most violently. Failing now would leave those smallholders with few mitigation options other than massive national and international migration.
This activity is now closed. Please contact [email protected] for any further information.