Foundation President Mary Robinson and Concern CEO Tom Arnold describe in the Irish Times how “the plight of those living in the Horn of Africa brought home the terrible vulnerability of the people living there to weather and climate shocks.”
“The plight of those living in the Horn of Africa brought home the terrible vulnerability of the people living there to weather and climate shocks.”
– Mary Robinson and Tom Arnold, writing in The Irish Times
The climate negotiations in Durban provide an opportunity to develop a sustainable global food system, the President of the Foundation Mary Robinson and CEO of Concern write in today’s Irish Times.
Mrs Robinson and Mr Arnold describe their recent visit to Somalia, where the UN declared famine in two regions. They write: “The plight of those living in the Horn of Africa brought home the terrible vulnerability of the people living there to weather and climate shocks.” They said the situation in the Horn of Africa reinforces the imperative of sustaining efforts and attention on food and nutrition security.
An opportunity exists at COP17, Mrs Robinson and Mr Arnold said to make progress on the recommendation in the 2011 Global Hunger Index to adapt to and mitigate extreme weather change.
They said: “Achieving food security is complex. But a situation where almost a billion people go hungry every day, where a further billion are malnourished, is an affront to us all. Progress at Durban could be a strong momentum to put justice and equity at the head of international responses to climate change as we prepare for the 20th anniversary of the landmark Rio Earth Summit next June. We urge those gathering in Durban not to let this opportunity pass.”
Related:
Food Security: A Climate Justice Approach. A keynote presentation by Mary Robinson – 3 December 2011
Climate debate needs to address famine in Africa – Mary Robinson and Tom Arnold opinion piece in The Irish Times, 30th November 2011