Due to the interconnectedness between the hunger problem and the climate catastrophe, as well as other significant factors that have derailed the global effort to end hunger and malnutrition in all of its manifestations by 2030, the goal faces severe obstacles. More so now that the number of people suffering from chronic hunger has increased from 130 million to 270 million due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
According to analysis by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), a 2°C increase in the average global temperature from pre-industrial levels will result in an incredible 189 million more people being hungry. Vulnerable groups, the majority of whom depend on subsistence farming, fishing, and livestock, and who make the smallest contributions to the climate problem, will continue to face the brunt of the effects with little ability to mitigate the harm. Food insecure people are compelled to rely on humanitarian relief since there are no social safety nets in place, such as food safety nets.
Up to 811 million people worldwide lack access to enough food, and the World Food Program (WFP) has estimated that 41 million people in 43 countries face an imminent threat of being hungry
The most vulnerable people continue to suffer the most. People in low-income nations experience the harshest effects despite making the smallest contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. The top 10 nations with the worst food security account for 0.08% of the world’s carbon emissions.
Numerous people who depend on agriculture, fishing, and livestock are at risk due to crop failures, water shortages, and poor nutrition (it must be reiterated that they are those who contribute the least to the climate crisis).
According to the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment, the climate crisis will have an influence on food production and livelihoods, but it also poses a threat to nutrition due to failures in several breadbaskets options, and adaptation requires the comprehension and execution of adaption priorities and actions. India has a significant role to play in this area thanks to its continuous and extensive policy efforts at the federal and state levels.
The outcome document also extends an invitation to the IPCC to present the findings from Working Group II’s contribution to its Sixth Assessment Report at the COP27 (in Egypt), including the need for adaptation to better understand the global, regional, and local impacts of climate change and the necessary response.
The final paper from COP26 applauded the recent commitments made by the wealthy nations to increase climate money to enable adaptation in developing countries to cope with the growing effects of the climate catastrophe. It noted that as compared to prior efforts, the contributions made to the Adaptation Fund and the Least Developed Countries Fund show substantial progress.
The base of stakeholders and present climate adaptation funding are still insufficient to address the growing effects of climate change.
“(COP) encourages Parties to continue exploring novel approaches and instruments for raising finance for adaptation from the private sector and calls upon multilateral development banks, other financial institutions, and the private sector to enhance finance mobilisation to deliver the scale of resources needed to achieve climate plans, particularly for adaptation.
The final paper from COP26 applauded the recent commitments made by the wealthy nations to increase climate money to enable adaptation in developing countries to cope with the growing effects of the climate catastrophe. It noted that as compared to prior efforts, the contributions made to the Adaptation Fund and the Least Developed Countries Fund show substantial progress.
The base of stakeholders and present climate adaptation funding are still insufficient to address the growing effects of climate change.
“(COP) encourages Parties to continue exploring novel approaches and instruments for raising finance for adaptation from the private sector and calls upon multilateral development banks, other financial institutions, and the private sector to enhance finance mobilisation to deliver the scale of resources needed to achieve climate plans, particularly for adaptation sources.”
At an emergency conference held in Milan, Italy, at the end of September, Mr. Guterres had called for assistance for developing countries, with 50% going toward resilience and adaptation to the climate issue. “Adaptation demands are growing every year,” he declared. By the end of this decade, the amount needed by developing nations for adaptation might more than treble to $300 billion annually.
With the changing environment posing a danger to their capacity to produce food, maintain stable incomes, and endure shocks, the WFP is assisting communities in making adjustments. 39 governments have received funding from it, enabling them to achieve their own national climate goals.
Over six million individuals benefited from the WFP’s implementation of climate risk management strategies in 28 countries in 2020, making them better off.
The global food system is impacted by the climate problem on all levels, from production to consumption. It depletes fisheries, kills cattle, ruins land and crops, and disrupts transportation to markets. This has an effect on food production, accessibility, diversity, and safety. In addition, food systems have an effect on the environment and contribute to climate change.
Following the groundbreaking UN Food Systems Summit in September, which served as a wake-up call that 811 million people are going to bed hungry, COP26 was held.
Agnes Kalibata, the Special Envoy of the United Nations for the Food Systems Summit, has urged COP27 to place a special emphasis on food systems, including food and agriculture.
With strong cooperation and partnership between governments, citizens, civil society organizations, and the private sector, we are on the verge of a transformation that will end hunger in the world by 2030 and fulfil promises for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This calls for reimagining the food system to balance growth and sustainability, mitigate climate change, ensure healthy, safe, quality, and affordable food, and invest in farmers while maintaining biodiversity, boosting resilience, and providing smallholders and youth with attractive income and employment opportunities.
ALSO READ | Centre’s lifts curbs imposed in Delhi-NCR under GRAP stage 3
