Over 80 experts gathered at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London to discuss food security and climate finance amid global development spending cuts. The roundtable, hosted in collaboration with Nigeria, highlighted the urgent need for innovative approaches to tackle these intertwined challenges. Key themes included the need for holistic strategies, effective data coordination, and enhanced climate finance to support agricultural resilience.
This week, over 80 experts convened at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London to address the critical intersection of food security and climate finance, particularly in light of recent global development spending cuts. The gathering, titled a Roundtable on Climate Finance and Food Security, was organized in collaboration with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology. Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland KC, delivered opening remarks via a pre-recorded message, expressing her gratitude to the Nigerian government for facilitating this important dialogue.
In her address, Secretary-General Scotland emphasized the pressing necessity for action regarding food security and climate financing, describing them as existential imperatives. She noted that people’s access to nutritious food is closely tied to resource mobilization for climate adaptation and resilience. However, she highlighted that climate finance is insufficient and that existing financing structures create hurdles for governments, exacerbating the challenges faced by vulnerable nations.
Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, who led the roundtable, outlined a comprehensive approach to integrate innovation with climate finance and food security. Minister Nnaji underscored agriculture’s significance to Nigeria, where it consists of 25% of the GDP and offers employment to 70% of the population. Despite this foundational role, he cautioned that the agriculture sector is encountering severe challenges, including deforestation in the south and desertification advancing in the north.
Participants listened to insights from international non-governmental organizations, underscoring the distinction between agriculture and food security. They advocated for improving crop nutrition to ensure sustenance as the rise of certain crops, such as tobacco in East Africa, illustrates the complexities of nutrition, land, and health in the context of climate change.
The roundtable featured discussions in smaller groups that focused on bridging climate-smart agricultural practices with global finance opportunities. Delegates explored the complexities of carbon credits, viewing them as a “maze,” while emphasizing the necessity to communicate the broader value of sustainable practices that build trust and credibility within the agricultural sector. Suggestions included adding soil quality information to food labels to encourage better agricultural practices.
A collective acknowledgment emerged regarding the difficulties faced in navigating policy regimes, with participants asserting the need for inter-departmental collaboration to achieve secure food systems and access to vital climate finance data. Enhancing digitalization was deemed essential, but consultations emphasized that countries must first build their capacity for improved data coordination as a prerequisite for implementing digital solutions effectively.
The outcomes of the roundtable reflected a need for holistic strategies in national food systems to address broader continental challenges such as infrastructure and technological advancements. Discussions also highlighted the importance of better soil management, water irrigation systems, production improvements, and adequate storage facilities. Additionally, the necessity for accurate data collection on various metrics, including weather patterns and market access, was reiterated alongside calls for equitable climate finance initiatives that are gender-responsive.
The Commonwealth Secretariat intends to use the insights garnered from this roundtable to enhance cross-sectional programming and apply lessons from the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, now in its tenth year, to mobilize financial resources effectively.
The roundtable convened by the Commonwealth Secretariat and Nigeria addressed the urgent nexus of food security and climate finance, highlighting the critical need for innovative solutions and collaborative approaches. With insights from both local and international experts, the discussions underscored the complexities of agriculture in the climate context and the necessity for integrated policies. Moving forward, the outcomes will serve to guide initiatives aimed at securing food systems and mobilizing financial resources for climate adaptation.
Original Source: thecommonwealth.org
