September 23, 2009

NEW YORK CITY – In addition to degrading the environment, climate change also is contributing to declining food security and increasing poverty, particularly for women and children.

That was the message from Church World Service Education and Advocacy Director Rajyashri Waghray to experts from the United Nations, NGOs, the faith community and academia, meeting in New York City to examine climate change-caused challenges to sustainable food production and to consider options for policy.

The Sept. 22 policy luncheon, held at the Church Center for the United Nations parallel to the Summit on Climate Change, highlighted the close connection between climate change and food,

Waghray spoke of the increasing vulnerability of poor people in the face of climate change. "When resources – water, arable land and other natural assets – become scarcer or are turned to profitable uses instead of food production, we know that those without power will lose out and will become even more vulnerable."

Asserting that climate change coupled with harmful trade and aid policies, are having a devastating impact on food production and food security, Waghray pointed out that "women, children and the elderly bear the burden, almost across all societies."

Other speakers at the gathering, co-sponsored by Church World Service, Global Policy Forum and the NGO Working Group on Food & Hunger, included Alvaro Ramazzini, Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of San Marcos, Guatemala and Ricardo Sanchez, Principal Officer of the United Nations Environment Program in New York.

Throughout the world, women play a vital role in growing, raising and processing food for their families. In Latin America, nearly half of household food is grown by women; in Asia, nearly two thirds; and in Sub-Saharan Africa, some 80 percent.

In all these places, women farmers not only are most likely to bear responsibility for adaptation, but already are bearing the burden of adapting to climate change, including finding alternative ways to feed their families. "Their ability to adapt needs to be supplemented and strengthened," Waghray said.

The advocacy director again emphasized the need for public policies that ensure timely and sufficient foreign assistance to help developing countries adapt to the consequences of climate change, and for the U.S. to do its part in curbing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

As part of it's Enough for All advocacy campaign around climate change, Church World Service is encouraging people to urge their U.S. senators to include sufficient international adaptation funding in climate change legislation now being drafted by the Senate.

The advocacy push is part of the run-up to December meetings in Copenhagen, Denmark, where world leaders will gather to finalize a new global agreement to curb climate change. In preparation for the meetings, Church World Service also is encouraging people to take the Countdown to Copenhagen Pledge, which asks President Obama to attend the summit and includes several steps to help address climate change.

The NGO Working Group on Food and Hunger coordinates advocacy and shares policy thinking among participant NGOs at the United Nations in New York.

Global Policy Forum is an independent policy watchdog that monitors the work of the United Nations and scrutinizes global policymaking, working particularly on the UN Security Council, the food and hunger crisis, and the global economy.

How to help

Contributions to support the relief, development and refugee assistance work of Church World Service may be made online, by phone (800.297.1516), or sent to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.

Church World Service