Over 80 experts gathered at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London to discuss solutions for food security and climate finance challenges. Hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology, the roundtable emphasized the need for urgent action and collaboration. Key outcomes included discussions on agricultural innovation, carbon credits, and the importance of quality data for informed decision-making.
This week, in London at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters, over 80 experts collaborated to address the pressing issues of food security and climate finance amid a backdrop of global development funding cuts. The event, titled the Roundtable on Climate Finance and Food Security, was organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology, signifying a joint effort to confront these challenges.
In her opening remarks delivered via a pre-recorded video, Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland KC, acknowledged the urgency of the matter. She expressed gratitude towards the Nigerian Government for facilitating the dialogue, stressing that food security and climate finance are vital for the survival of Commonwealth nations. Scotland highlighted the inadequacy of climate finance in keeping up with the escalating climate crisis and the challenges faced by vulnerable nations due to unequal developmental financial rules.
Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, the Nigerian Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, emphasized the importance of integrating innovation with climate finance and food security. He pointed out that agriculture is crucial to Nigeria’s economy, contributing 25% to the GDP and providing employment for 70% of the workforce. Despite being the world’s leading producer of cassava, the agricultural sector faces severe obstacles including deforestation and desertification that threaten food security and economic growth.
Participants discussed how agricultural activities alone do not guarantee food security, stressing the need for effective crop nutrition in addressing hunger. The complexity of the relationship between climate change, land usage, health, and nutrition emerged as a focal point during discussions. The rise of tobacco farming in East Africa exemplifies how cultivated land may not always lead to food production.
Through breakout groups focusing on bridging climate-smart agriculture with global financial resources, attendees engaged in thorough discussions. Topics included carbon credits, which a delegate from Kenya described as a challenging “maze.” An Indian delegate suggested incentivizing better agricultural practices by introducing ‘soil quality’ labels on food products to encourage improved food production and land protection.
The dialogue highlighted the difficulty of navigating departmental policies which hinder cohesive efforts necessary for securing robust food systems and climate financing. Digitalization was recognized as a vital tool for scaling solutions in climate-smart agriculture; however, significant capacity building is necessary for countries to better manage their data. Establishing a national space for data exchange was emphasized to mitigate the challenges posed by duplicative and conflicting statistics.
The key outcomes from the roundtable called for comprehensive strategies toward developing national and continental food systems. Participants acknowledged the need for enhancing infrastructure, technology, soil management, irrigation systems, and storage facilities. Additionally, the collection of quality data relating to weather, production, and post-harvest losses was deemed essential, along with addressing issues related to market access, clean cooking, and equitable climate finance that considers gender perspectives.
The Commonwealth Secretariat aims to leverage the insights from the roundtable to guide cross-sectional programs and intends to utilize the experiences from the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub to enhance financial mobilization and support in its tenth year of operation.
The Roundtable on Climate Finance and Food Security convened by the Commonwealth Secretariat and Nigeria yielded significant insights into the interconnected challenges of food security and climate finance. Experts underscored the urgency of addressing these issues collaboratively and emphasized holistic strategies for effective solutions. The discussions highlighted the importance of data sharing, innovative agricultural practices, and cross-departmental collaboration for resilience against climate change while enhancing food security in vulnerable nations.
Original Source: thecommonwealth.org