Intersection of Climate Change and Food Security

Our panel will discuss how their organisations are adapting their approach in response to climate change across their programmes and interventions to support and improve food security in a changing climate.

Global food insecurity is on the rise, not just as a result of geopolitical events, but also due to the climate crisis. Climate change is influencing weather patterns, exacerbating and increasing extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts and flooding. These factors impact agriculture and many aspects of the supply chain, further disrupting food supply, yield and security.

Those most at risk of a disrupted food system are the most vulnerable and the countries least equipped to deal with it. About 80% of the global population most at risk from crop failures and external shocks are in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, where those who traditionally operate in the agricultural sector are disproportionally poor and vulnerable.

The global food system is the number one source of methane and biodiversity loss, whilst also being responsible for roughly a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. The environmental impact of climate change threatens food security and nutrition through interconnected impacts on soil, crop growth, animal survival and labour productivity. In the world of changing climate, in order to support food security, there needs to be a multipronged approach to adapt farming practices, in order to foster adaptation of food crops for higher yields and better nutrition.

In order to combat these emissions and become more resilient, countries require major social, economic and technological change, and programmes which reflect this need are being undertaken by our members across the globe. Our panel will discuss how their interventions are supporting communities affected by food insecurity due to climate change.

For this session we will be joined by the World Food Programme, DAI Global, Cowater and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, who will each be covering a different aspect of this crucial intersection.