United Nations Radio

The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food warned Wednesday that climate change is a ticking time bomb for global food security.

Farmers

Olivier De Schutter said the impacts of climate change would be felt disproportionately by some of the poorest countries and the most vulnerable within those countries. Small scale farmers and indigenous peoples, as well as those who depend on land for their livelihoods, he said, would suffer most.

De Schutter called on States "to exploit the untapped potential of sustainable agriculture in order to combat hunger and climate change at the same time." He said only climate policies that are deeply rooted in a human rights regime can guarantee that the impacts upon the most vulnerable will be minimized.

The Special Rapporteur insisted that strengthening the right to food and mitigating climate change can be mutually supportive. As an example, he cited how innovative agro-ecological modes of production have improved food production and incomes of small farmers and at the same time have had a positive impact on climate through reducing use of fossil fuels and carbon stocking.

Gerry Adams, United Nations Radio
(duration: 1'11")