Tuesday, 7th April 2009
This climate change was organised by Practical Action, as part of a themed seminar. Almost one billion people in the world are hungry today. And the world’s population will continue to grow until it stabilises at nine billion in the middle of this century, by which time our food systems will have to feed 50% more people than they do today.
The panel consisted of Professor Robert Watson (Chief Scientist of DEFRA), Dr Saleemul Huq (Senior Fellow of Climate Change), Hilary Warbuton (Head of Practical Action’s work on food and livelihood security), and Patrick Holden (Director of Soil Association). This seminar looked into the underlying context of global poverty and environmental degradation as unchanged and the development of sustainable food supplies, and how climate resilient food system can tackle hunger in the developing world while reversing environmental damage.
Prof.Robert Watson talked broadly on the links with climate change and food security, touching upon common cause and implications of climate change to agriculture and farmers. A short background of the key components of climate change allowed Prof. Watson to elaborate on the need for governing better water and environmental system to cut on waste. Climate change has interrelation with increase in disease, heat stress, mortality, and decrease of water availability/quality, agricultural productivity... Food security is due to the increase of bio- fuel (particularly in the US), poor harvest, increase demand from China for example, high energy prices, speculation on commodity markets, and export bans from large exporting countries. Options for action included appropriate use of current technology, agro-ecological practices coupled with decreased post-harvest losses. We need to provide payments to farmers to maintain and enhance the ecological system. Prof.Watson stated that we have the technology to start this process. Gender empowerment of women is also particularly important to increase output and improvement in farming system and technology.
Dr Saleemul Huq used Bangladesh as a case study to discuss hunger and climate change. His review of the IPCC (4th assessment) suggested that the Mega-Deltas and Africa is an important focus for climate change and food security. With their low-adaptive capacities, these regions already struggle with food and climate change (hurricanes, glacier ice melting etc). At the global level, the UN convention on Climate Change is currently reviewing the Kyoto Protocol, and believes politicians are not brave unless civilians push these actions to the UN. It is difficult to develop global to local, therefore locals need to become empowered to push for change to a global level. Rich countries are not only responsible for climate change, but also rich people living in poor countries. However poor people in rich countries also suffer as illustrated by the devastation of hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Rich countries are still unable to prevent climate change disasters or weaken its devastation. Formal negotiating groups are made up of poor countries – NAPA (National Adaptation Plan of Action) look at neighbourhoods which are most vulnerable to plan for action, however funding is short. Ingenious societies and knowledge need to be married with international planners.
Patrick Holden urged that nations need a strategic proof plan, whereby action is bottom up. There needs to be a total transformation of our food system. Other key elements were also mentioned in his speech.
Hilary Warbuton stated that small scale farming is normal in agriculture, and work in harsh conditions. Therefore, these farmers will be most familiar with the changes within their climate. Livelihood actions are limited and there is usually little or no finances available. The approach for climate change is for farmers to increase resilience, sustainability (socially and environmentally), manage risj, and increase the ability to change. It is not enough to chnage crops, but allow them to change a whole approach to livelihoods and systems.
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