Food Systems: Harnessing nutrition co-benefits of climate resilient agriculture

Climate change, food systems and food and nutrition security are strongly interlinked. The food we eat and how we produce it will determine the health of people and planet, according to the EAT Lancet Commission. Extreme weather and climate events have increased in frequency, intensity and severity. Since the 1980s, each successive decade has been warmer than any preceding one since 1850.  There is increased evidence that the effects of climate change have an impact on livelihood choices, work options and time spent on care and other nutrition-related activities, undermining current efforts to reduce hunger and promote nutrition. Climate-related changes in diets may well lead to 500,000 additional deaths. Furthermore, the effects of climate change on nutrition vary based on wealth status and livelihood and contribute, therefore, to increased inequalities and vulnerability of marginalised groups. The 2020 Global Nutrition Report revealed that progress is too slow to meet global targets to end malnutrition in all its forms.

To achieve the SDGs, major changes must be made to the food systems to increase access to affordable healthier diets for all people and planet. This dialogue will discuss the importance of the nexus between climate change and nutrition for improving human and planetary health from different perspectives, including:

• The body of evidence showing the interlinkages between climate and nutrition and the existing research gaps;
• The potential solutions, that optimise synergies between climate change and nutrition and minimise trade-offs;
• The policy and programmatic approaches adopted by governments and development partners to address present and future challenges;

The Dialogue intends to achieve the following outcomes:

• How a better understanding of the nexus between climate change and nutrition can contribute to building sustainable food systems at local, national and global level
• Importance for the countries to contextualise their goal/target based on local condition in order to achieve sustainable healthy diet
• Need for mutual accountability systems to ensure that actors and institutions involved in the food systems are fully contributing to the common target of achieving sustainable diet for all and healthy planet

REGISTER: https://ifad.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_s9cWM_jEQkyL5giVaLwUvA

Find out more: https://www.ifad.org/en/web/latest/-/webinar-food-systems-harnessing-nutrition-co-benefits-of-climate-resilient-agriculture