FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva welcomed the approval of the Paris Agreement, saying that “for the first time ever, food security features in a global climate change accord.”
The Paris Agreement, often dubbed COP21, recognizes “the fundamental priority of safeguarding food security and ending hunger, and the particular vulnerabilities of food production systems to the impacts of climate change”.
It underlines the need to “increase the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience…in a manner that does not threaten food production”.
“This is a game changer for the 800 million people still suffering from chronic hunger, and for 80% of the world’s poor who live in rural areas and earn income – and feed their families – from agriculture sectors,” Graziano da Silva said.
“By including food security, the international community fully acknowledges that urgent attention is needed to preserve the well-being and future of those who are on the front line of climate change threats.”
“FAO commends this milestone decision to move forward on climate change action, which comes on the heels of the new Sustainable Development Agenda and its pledge to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by 2030.”
“Central to our goal of achieving Zero Hunger, FAO strongly advocates for commitments to protect and enhance food security in a changing climate,” he added.
“Our message is simple: we will not reach Sustainable Development Goal 2 on ending hunger – and by extension the entire 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda – without ambitious action on climate change.”
