HONG KONG: The UN Special Rapporteur on Right to Food, Hilal Elver, expressed her concerns about the issue on a news release. “Increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather, rising temperatures, and sea levels, as well as floods and droughts, have a significant impact on the right to food,” she said. “All these climate incidents will negatively impact on crops, livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and on people’s livelihoods.”
The expert believes that in order to satisfy the food demand, the world needs new agricultural models less focused on mass industrial production and more inclined to support small businesses, like local farming, with the purpose of creating environmental sustainability, advocating for food democracy and promoting a healthy and natural diet.
“Those who have contributed the least to global warming are the ones set to suffer the most from its harmful effects. Urgent action is needed to respond to the challenges posed by climate change, but mitigation and adaptation policies should respect the right to food as well as other fundamental human rights,” the Rapporteur stated.
Elver will bring her concerns to the UN climate change conference (COP 21) that will be held in Paris, from November 30 to December 11.
