People and Planet: Addressing the Interlinked Challenges of Climate Change, Poverty and Hunger in Asia and the Pacific

16 July 2024, 8:30 – 9:30 AM
Intervention delivered by April Porteria
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development & Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism


We are the official CSO mechanism that facilitates regional CSO participation to the 2030 Agenda, and has been partnering with ESCAP since the beginning of the SDGs, 11-12 years back. 

My response is based on the collective analysis by the regional CSO mechanism based on our factsheet in SDG 2 produced during the 11th APFSD last February in Bangkok.

Progress of the Goals

First we can see that data does not lie–mitigating hunger in the region is still far from the targets especially in the context of the climate crisis. And we cite the UNESCAP 2024 Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report, on Goal 2 –that current overall progress is 17% way below the 50% target by 2022. And also citing the report that we need additional 32 years to achieve all goals–that includes the intersectionality of the goals–1, 2, 13. 

 

Impacts of climate crisis to food security

As early as 2016, the World Food Programme is already saying how climate change affects food production, food access and livelihoods, and food utilisation and nutrition in the region, contributing to its hunger situation.

In addition, the latest available Seasonal Monitor of the region (October 2023) had warned how El Nino would cause generally warmer than normal temperatures across significant parts of Asia and the Pacific, particularly the negative impacts on rainfall patterns and crop production with a high risk of floods and drought that may result in a drop of crop yields.

Especially impacted by the extreme weather patterns are the small farmers, who are not able to cover the losses and damages to their crops. Thus, we also reiterated the needed climate financing that would address this concern. 

 

Monopoly control

And we would also like to note that macro-economic, social, and political issues could have impacts on the progress of SDG 2 as well, such as monopoly control and agribusiness’s consolidation of the seeds, agrochemicals, farm machinery, commodity trading, food retail, etc. For instance, according to the ETC Group, just four multinational companies now control half of the world’s commercial seeds and 62% of the pesticide market. Meanwhile, the largest 1% of farms operate more than 70% of farmlands globally. 


Environmental degradation 

The dominant corporate-driven food system is highly unsustainable, in terms of consumption and production–I remember the 2019 UNEA’s theme was on SCP and back then we were already talking about the adverse environmental impacts, including huge greenhouse gas emissions and resource degradation, and high economic costs of the current food system.

And unfortunately, big corporate interests are using the climate crisis to tighten their control over food systems further. Agrochemical companies, for instance, are introducing so-called climate-resilient seeds that require their toxic chemicals. Others promote supposed “nature-based solutions,” including biofuel plantations, corporate conservation projects, renewable energy, and other “green” investments, etc., that essentially are inappropriate solutions as these still serve as mediums to grab lands and displace communities.

 

Recommendations

Thus, the civil society groups are advocating for the following:

  1. First, we put forward the framework feminist food sovereignty that is inclusive of indigenous and women’s access and control of land and resources, and of course the meaningful engagement of the communities in decision-making at all levels. 
  2. We would also like to bring attention to the growing corporatisation of the food system impacting local economies and environmental sustainability. 
  3. And we also highly recommend the much needed review and ensure accountability mechanisms of proposed solutions such as green financing, e-commerce, carbon markets, climate smart agriculture, different forms of foreign direct investments in agriculture, digital technologies, and even partnership with the private sector, among others.
  4. Finally, we also highly recommend the needed climate financing that is just and equitable, to address these concerns. 
  5. And just to add, that as civil society we commit to continue conversing and demand dialogues from the member states to deliver these perspectives at the table. 

 

###