EGM on SDG 2: Brian Kawuma Statement

Brian Kawuma

Powering Agricuture Director, Power For All

Session 10: Prosperity

The global food system the cause and effect of climate change

Climate change and our global food systems are locked in a vicious cycle we need to address. Our current food system is not only underperforming but is increasingly unlikely to satisfy future demands. A third of rising greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) stem from agriculture, undermining food system efficiency and disproportionately impacting underdeveloped countries with limited adaptive resources. Central to this issue is a fossil-fuel-dependent food system that, in its current state, is neither sustainable, resilient, nor equitable.

The food system contributes significantly to environmental harm, accounting for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Deforestation and current food production methods are key contributors. The operation of the food system varies by region.

• Approximately 80% of the food system's energy is fossil fuel-driven, and it generates over one-third of global GHG emissions.
• Global food system GHG emissions are land use (32%), production (40%), processing (4%), distribution (13%), consumption (3%), and end of life (9%). Food loss and waste account for about half of these emissions across all stages.
• One-third of the world's forests (2 billion hectares) have been cleared for agriculture. To halt deforestation, we must boost agricultural productivity using current technological innovations.
• Africa's food system emits 2.8 Gt of CO2eq GHG, accounting for 59% of the continent's total emissions, the highest agri-food system share globally.

Climate change jeopardizes the global food system's capacity to meet rising demand, especially in Africa, which contributes least to the climate crisis.

• The Global North contributes most to the agri-business' carbon footprint, the impacts are felt globally with the brunt being borne by the Global South. Specifically, 18 of the top 20 climate-affected countries are in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
• Climate change has reduced global agricultural production by about 21% since 1961.
• The Global South's food system is disproportionately impacted by climate change. In Africa, this manifests as frequent droughts, floods, and a rise in agricultural pests.
• African nations, contributing least to the climate crisis, risk a GDP growth reduction of up to 64% by the century's end due to its impacts.
• Climate change complicates agricultural progress in Africa, with erratic weather patterns leading to more unpredictable crop and livestock yields.
• In SSA, agriculture is highly climate-dependent, more so than in other developing regions, making it especially vulnerable to changes in rainfall and temperature due to climate change.
• A business-as-usual approach to meet rising global food, energy, and water needs, will likely lead to a temperature rise of an alarming 3.2°C by 2050.

Projected population growth is highest in Africa, a region with the least energy access and food security.

• In Africa, total population is expected to double by 2050.
• Smallholder farmers are the primary food producers in Africa, contributing up to 90% of food production in some countries. However, most of them (70-85%), remain without energy access.
• Around 9.2% of the global population faces hunger. While Asia and Latin America saw improvements between 2021-2022, hunger increased in Western Asia, the Caribbean, and all African subregions.
• Today, nearly 20% of Africa's population faces hunger, a higher rate than other regions. Global food demand is projected to rise by 60% by 2050, with Africa accounting for the majority.
• Though Africa has 60% of the world's unused arable land and ample sun and water, its low mechanization and energy access make it a net food importer, costing about $50B annually.