COP 21 – A side event on Climate-Smart Food Systems for Enhanced Nutrition
The Global Panel has organised a side event which took place on Saturday 5th December 2015, 10.00-11.30, at the Africa Pavilion.
In response to climate change, how can agriculture and food system policies improve nutrition in Africa?
Achieving food security and improved nutrition (undernutrition and obesity) for countries impacted by the effects of climate change requires commitment and action at all policy levels. Climate-smart agriculture must consider options for investments through a nutrition and diet quality lens.
Malnutrition in all its forms is already undermining the health and economic opportunities of 1 in 4 people in Africa, having ripple effects beyond affected individuals to society as a whole. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia face the prospect of most serious impacts of climate change. These regions already have the highest burdens of malnutrition and the greatest reliance on agriculture.
As diets are fast changing, it becomes critical to better manage food systems in the context of climate change. Urgent policy action is needed to link food system resilience with higher quality diets and nutrition.
This side event has explored the policies needed to achieve food and nutrition security under climate change, including ensuring that agriculture and food systems deliver high quality diets. The Global Panel presented its vision on how this can be achieved.
The Global Panel has released a Statement on Climate Change, Food Systems and Nutrition which includes six policy suggestions to help Governments achieve nutrition security and improve agriculture productivity, while reducing emissions from the landscape. The Statement will be discussed at the event.
Programme of events
10.00 – 10.05 Introduction to the Global Panel by Sandy Thomas
10.05 – 10.15 Delivering agriculture for nutrition post COP21 by Rachel Kyte
10.15 – 10.25 Climate change, nutrition and food systems in Africa by President John Kufuor
10.25 – 10.35 CCAFS Perspective by James Kinyangi, Regional Programme Leader in East Africa
10.35 – 10.45 Climate-Smart Food Systems for Enhanced Nutrition by Sandy Thomas
10.45 – 11.00 Q&A
11.00 – 11.15 Climate change and nutrition: the importance of women and youth by the Rt Hon
Justine Greening MP, Secretary of State for International Development, UK governmen
11.15 – 11.30 Q&A and closing remarks