The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) held “A Conversation with Leaders” session, which brought together ministers, CEOs and leading experts to further discuss some of the tough questions raised about the challenges posed on food security by climate change. The event took place as part of the Climate Change Forum, launched by MoCCAE on the sidelines of the fifth edition of the World Government Summit.
During his opening remarks, His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, indicated that all aspects of food security, including food access, utilization and price stabilities, will be affected under climate change. The minister stressed that some forms of adaptation will therefore be required to cope with impacts of climate change, noting there are already evidence of impacts of climate change on agriculture.
“The world desperately needs to achieve quantum leaps in the food industry to reduce the impact of climate change on all walks of life. Agriculture is one of the most important economic sectors globally and the one most affected by climate change. Population growth rates indicate that by 2050 the world will require about 60 percent more food than we consume today. As impacts of climate change become evident, we must look closely at some of the hard questions, and take the necessary actions to ensure food security for generations to come”, H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi said.
Leaders participating in the session agreed that there is growing number of initiatives taken to address climate change and sustainable food production, with two global policy framework driving the way forward: the Paris Agreement on climate change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, both adopted by the international community in 2015. They asserted that countries will need to keep up the huge global momentum on climate change, as adaptation efforts will result in vain if mitigation efforts in other sectors are not scaled up.
During this high-level discussion, participants emphasized that technology and innovation play a particularly important role in adapting to and increasing resilience to impacts of climate change also in reducing emissions and maximizing resource efficiencies.
They indicated that there are various range of actions and initiatives undertaken world-wide, from improving farming practices to minimizing food waste. Some of the examples include: Introduction of new forms of food production such as hydroponics and aquaponics, vertical farming and biosaline agriculture; Utilization of renewable energy in various segments of the value chain, as well as reducing food loss and waste through improved packaging, efficient logistics, retail and consumer awareness raising.
Participants concluded that all segments of society need to play a role to facilitate the transition to more sustainable forms of food production and consumption. Governments need to ensure that effective and clear domestic policy frameworks are in place, the private sector has a role to promote and invest in sustainable production and retail practices, where partnerships with academia and research institutions will hold a central role to foster necessary innovation and technological advancements. Consumers also will have to make informed choices about what they consume and how much.
The World Government Summit 2017 attracted more than 4,000 people from over 139 countries, and witnessed the participation of 150 speakers across 114 sessions. Participants include dignitaries and experts from the public and private sectors around the world, in addition to ministers, decision-makers, CEOs, innovators, officials, entrepreneurs, academic figures, and university students. The summit is launching several initiatives, reports and studies during throughout the year.