UN Resident Coordinator Nelson Mandela Foundation: Climate Change and Food Insecurity Seminar

[Salutations]

Dear friends from the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Nelson Mandela University, 

Esteemed guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,  

I am pleased to join you this morning for the timely seminar on Climate Change and Food Insecurity. 

Greetings from the United Nations family in South Africa. 

Unfortunately, I am not able to attend in person, but more than happy to provide this video framing message, as the topic for the discussion is of utmost importance. It showcases how many of the challenges faced in the world today are interlinked, and as such – cannot be solved in isolation. 

Several Sustainable Development Goals are relevant here, and we cannot achieve one without realizing the others:

Goal 2 on Zero Hunger and Goal 13 on Climate Action. 

Other SDGs are critically connected too, such as Goals on Zero Poverty, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Reduced Inequalities.

For example, children who suffer from hunger cannot study effectively, they can be stunted and are often forced to abandon school to work. 

Therefore, addressing world hunger is not just about feeding the hungry, but also about fostering peace, prosperity, and social justice.

Climate change has a huge impact on food security, because food systems and the land issues rely on natural resources that are extremely vulnerable to rapidly changing climatic conditions.

While it's true that moderate  increases in temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels may enhance crop yields in specific regions, these benefits are contingent upon various factors, including nutrient levels, soil moisture, and water availability. 

However, the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, are becoming increasingly unpredictable and damaging due to climate change.

These events pose significant challenges for farmers and threaten both food security and safety, as  droughts lead to crop failures and water shortages, while floods destroy crops, infrastructure, and livelihoods. 

Moreover, fluctuations in weather patterns disrupt traditional farming practices and exacerbate existing vulnerabilities within agricultural systems.

The interlinkages between climate change and food insecurity are significant and complex with impacts at national and sub‑national levels.

. In view of such disasters, both natural and man-made, it is imperative that  thecountry invests in early warning and anticipatory action to minimise impacts and protect lives. 

FAO, the UN Organization on Food and Agriculture, has recently released a report on the impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security. 

The report notes that disasters are producing unprecedented levels of damage and loss in agriculture around the world,affecting the functioning and sustainability of agricultural production and threatening the livelihoods of millions of people reliant on agricultural food systems.

These impacts are amplified by underlying factors and vulnerabilities created by social conditions such as  global pandemicsand conflict situations. 

To address these complex and interrelated challenges, new approaches to risk reduction and response mechanisms are required.

Just last month, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, addressed the UN Security Council meeting stating, that:

“Climate and conflict are two leading drivers of [our] global food crisis.

Empty bellies fuel unrest … Conflict can easily be sparked where tensions are high, institutions are weak, and people are marginalized.

… Where wars rage, hunger reigns — whether due to displacement of people, destruction of agriculture, damage to infrastructure or deliberate policies of denial.”

In Africa, an estimated 58 million people are facing food insecurity, while almost 18.6 million children are stunted. 

And in the Southern Africa region, the challenge of food insecurity is served with a harsh reality where one in five people face hunger, a rate more than double the global average.

South Africa has its own challenges regarding the country's food system, with about 20% of households facing food insecurity, according to the South Africa Census 2022.

South Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change, because of its high dependence on climate-sensitive economic sectors and agriculture.

The floods that devastated KZN and the Eastern Cape between 2022 and 2024 serve, again, as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness between climate and agriculture. 

Most pressing question is – how do we change this? 

With less than 6 years left to achieve the SDGs, we really have no choice but to make a turning point in our collective journey toward an inclusive, equitable, healthy, sustainable, and resilient future, leaving no one behind.  

We must blend together and draw interlinkages across policy, knowledge and innovation, finance,, climate action, education, and decent work elements to create a comprehensive and sustainable solution while also recognising there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing food insecurity. 

At the United Nations Secretary-General convened Food Systems Summit +2, the Secretary-General said:

“Broken food systems are not inevitable. They are the result of choices we have made. There is more than enough food in the world to go around. More than enough money to fund efficient and sustainable food systems to feed the world, while supporting decent work for those who grow the food we eat.” 

Thus, this statement implies that as much as our choices have resulted in insufficient food systems, we can decide otherwise. 

The government of South Africa is committed to addressing these challenges, for example through their Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan, that aims to develop a globally competitive agricultural and agro-processing sectors, support market-oriented and inclusive production in rural economies, ensure food security, and create employment and entrepreneurship.

And the UN is supporting the Government in their efforts through its Rome-based agencies – the World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, that are acting in a coordinated fashion in enhancing food security, sustainable agriculture and rural transformation.

By enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder and rural farmers through resilient value chain capacity strengthening, by extending nutrition programmes, and by providing livelihood training to vulnerable women and youth to develop their entrepreneurship capacity, we are on the right track.

It is imperative that we prioritize resilience-building measures within agricultural communities. 

This involves investing in climate-smart agricultural practices, such as drought-resistant crop varieties and soil conservation techniques.

For example, we need to look at returning to the cultivation of millet crops as they hold[RH9]  significant importance due to their unparalleled nutritional value and resilience in the face of climate change.

And because of this, millets are vital in combating malnutrition and contributes to sustainable agriculture practices.

Millets are rich in essential nutrients like protein, fiber, and micronutrients, making them vital for combating malnutrition and promoting overall health.

Additionally, millet crops are inherently drought-resistant and require minimal water, making them ideal for regions experiencing water scarcity and unpredictable weather patterns exacerbated by climate change.[RH10] [RH11] 

Embracing millet cultivation not only enhances food security but also contributes to sustainable agriculture practices, mitigating the impacts of climate change on global food systems.

Additionally, improving water management strategies, adopting sustainable land-use practices, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, are ways to mitigate climate change impacts on food security. such as rainwater[RH12]  harvesting and efficient irrigation systems, is essential to ensure sustainable water usage in agriculture. [RH13] 

Transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power and improving energy efficiency enhances energy security and resilience.

Supporting smallholder farmers in adopting these sustainable farming techniques is crucial for enhancing their resilience to climate change impacts. 

By addressing the root causes of climate change and building adaptive capacity within the agricultural sector, we can mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events and safeguard food security for future generations.

Moreover, mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions is important.

Additionally, adopting sustainable land-use practices mitigate climate change impacts on food security. 

By implementing these measures, we can pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future for agriculture and food systems worldwide.

What I urge you all to do – is to play your part as partners from academia and civil society, is to join us by strengthening partnerships and to mobilize collective and intentional efforts to truly accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Academics and activists – we salute you, and we need you.   

Wish you a successful seminar with fruitful discussions to enlighten our way forward towards nurturing both nature and people.   

Thank you.