Trade, Food Security and Climate Change are at the Centre of
Development Agenda
Doha, Qatar, April 24, 2012
“Better and fuller understanding of
linkages between trade, climate change and food security is urgently
needed”.
This was a key conclusion of CUTS International and South Asia Watch
on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) joint session on
“Climate change, food security, and trade: Challenges and
opportunities”. The session took place at UNCTAD XIII CSO Forum to
hear presentations from experts and discuss possible opportunities
and challenges that climate change presents for trade and food
security. It was attended by a number of developing country
ambassadors, other country delegates, and representatives of
international and non-governmental organisations.
Nathan Irumba, former ambassador of Uganda and Executive Director
Southern and Eastern African Institute for Negotiations and
Information (SEATINI), stated that climate change is a reality in
Africa. Extreme weather events have adversely affected agricultural
production while a large majority of population still depends on
agriculture for its livelihood. Moreover, trade, contrary to
classical theory, has not led to improvements in agricultural
productivity. According to him, the challenge for developing
countries is to increase agricultural productivity while adapting to
climate change.
According to Mark Halle, Director, Trade and Investment, and
European Representative, International Institute for Sustainable
Development (IISD), the three issues of trade, climate change and
food security were symptomatic of the need for greater global
cooperation. However, the multilateral processes and negotiations in
these areas remain stalemated because of the lack of equity. There
is growing disenchantment with the existing model of economy. He
felt that the green economy can address these concerns. He also
emphasized that US$100 billion required annually for climate change
adaptation is not large when viewed in the context of US$650 billion
annual subsidization of carbon-based fuel.
Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy
Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka, and former ambassador of Bangladesh to the
WTO and UN Office in Geneva informed that a recent CPD study has
showed the adverse impact of climate change on agriculture and food
security in Bangladesh. Climate change, trade and food security have
both horizontal and vertical linkages which should be studied.
According to him, the issue of policy space for developing countries
is not limited to trade only. Developing countries need policy space
to deal with a number of other issues as well, e.g., public finance,
climate change, food security, etc. He also felt that food chains
that are led by multi-national corporations should find ways for
equitable integration of small farmers in these chains.
The participants congratulated CUTS International for launching its
work on trade-climate change-food security linkages. They pointed
out a number of instances from Asia and Africa where agricultural
production has not kept pace with growing population and hence
endangered food security. Many countries in Africa that used to
export food, have become food importers. Climate change will further
exacerbate the situation.
The discussion at the event concluded that knowledge-creation and
capacity building on trade-climate change-food security linkages is
urgently needed. This will allow stakeholders in developing
countries to better understand the challenges and find holistic
solutions.
For more information, please contact:
Kshitiz Sharma, Assistant Director CUTS International, +974-55004828 (Doha,
Qatar),
ks@cuts.org |