28 February 2013: Referencing a recent report from the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), an op-ed from leaders of the World Food Programme (WFP), the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and others underscores the links among climate change, hunger and poor nutrition.

Titled “Climate change is worsening world hunger,” the op-ed is co-written by Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin, and the CEO of the CGIAR Consortium, Frank Rijsberman.

The Op-Ed argues that agricultural production will need to increase by 60% to meet basic food needs, and that climate change, land degradation and water scarcity may reduce food production by a quarter. The authors also stress the importance of nutrition, particularly during the first two years of life.

The Op-Ed was published in the run up to the Hunger, Nutrition, Climate Justice 2013 Conference, which will take place from 15-16 April 2013, in Dublin Ireland. The Conference is being organized in response to these challenges, and will present solutions that are being implemented to build food security in the face of climate change. The conference will have a particular focus on women, and policy discussions will address the post-2015 framework. The Conference is co-organized by WFP, and the CGIAR Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Programme (CCAFS). [Publication: Climate Change is Worsening World Hunger] [Hunger, Nutrition, Climate Justice 2013 Conference] [Publication: Food Security and Climate Change: A Report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition] [IISD RS Story on the High Level Report]