Background
Climate change has become an even more pressing challenge and a potent force exacerbating global food crisis. The impacts of the climate crisis such as floods, drought or heatwaves affect the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, aggravating poverty, world hunger and social tensions. Over the past decade, 1.7 billion people have been affected by extreme weather and climate-related disasters. Up to 783 million people do not have enough food and 47 million people in 54 countries are at 'emergency' or worse levels of hunger.
In July 2023, a UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment called for actions on incorporating food systems strategies into national policies for climate action and reducing vulnerability. Along with peer UN agencies, WFP aims to enhance the resilience of the vulnerable and ensure access to food in the face of climate-related challenges by engaging in policy advocacy and climate-smart programmes.
The United Nations released the UAE Consensus on climate resilience as a significant outcome of COP28, setting out ambitious actions including transitioning away from all fossil fuels in energy systems to reach net zero emission in 2025, a specific target on tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, calling for national policy action to reduce emission.
South-South Cooperation is reiterated in the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action, recognizing the profound potential of agriculture and food systems to drive powerful and innovative responses to climate change. It is committed to expedite the integration of agriculture and food systems into climate actions and to promote activities that bolster resilience, productivity, livelihoods, and nutrition, accelerate and scale science and evidence-based innovations.
Water is vital for agriculture and food systems. Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of water-related hazards while accelerating land degradation. Facing droughts and floods, WFP supports communities in building resilience by restoring ecosystems to improve water availability and food access including building canals, providing irrigation pipeline, installing solar panel to power water pumps.
In the Sahel countries facing serious drought, land rehabilitation projects have been implemented by WFP such as half-moons engaged and benefited thousands of villages, reduced soil erosion and improved water retention, building climate resilient by recharging groundwater, increasing vegetation cover, and returning of plant.
Rationale
WFP China COE has been working over the past years and detected that more developing countries wishes to access policy support on climate resilience. Amidst the booming needs for climate change and rural resilience transformation through South-South Cooperation, the most desirable technologies are pertinent to drought resilience capacity development, solar solutions for food systems, and ecological restoration.
China has recognized the importance of climate resilience building for food security, poverty reduction, rural transformation, and social economic development. Policy formulation is in the pivot to provide institutional framework, financial and human resource allocation, and regulatory measures to create an enabling environment for climate resilience. In the 2024 No. 1 Central Document, China highlighted ecological civilization in rural areas and in agricultural development, prioritizing ecological protection. An important document National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2035 was jointly issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and 17 other government agencies.
Political commitment demonstrated that concerned policies should be in place to address climate change through adaptation and mitigation.
Justification
For adaptation: Climate-adapted crops are significant technical approaches for of land and ecosystem restoration towards food systems resilience. Regenerative agriculture practices area also key entry points for climate adaptation.
For mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sinks, long-term adjustments of energy, industrial and natural ecosystems are key pathways.
In alignment with WFP’s priority on climate change and China’s experience in climate change adaptation and mitigation, WFP China COE will be working with key partners to organize a Policy Dialogue to exchange visions on national solutions for policy framework on food security against climate change with gender perspective. The main topic of the Dialogue includes:
- National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Food Security
- Drought Resilience Strengthening for Ecological Restoration
- New Energy Utilization in Rural Transformation
Objectives
1. To advocate for climate resilience building for the world’s most vulnerable population
2. To share China’s policy design on food security against climate change
3. To tap into why and how policies should be shaped to promote climate-resilient crops and solar energy solutions for agriculture value chain development.
Event arrangement
Hybrid format with onsite event in Beijing and Zoom meeting virtually
Zoom Meeting ID: 925 6763 2731 Passcode: 020342
Participants
Targeted participants include relevant government officials in China, policy maker and embassies of concerned countries, scholars, practitioners, and representatives from WFP Headquarter, Regional Bureaus, and Country Offices.
Representatives will cover their own travel and accommodation cost. Female participates are most encouraged to join as speaker, facilitator, and participant.
Agenda (Tentative)
