Food systems for peace and security in a climate crisis

Two thoughts should shape policy on food and peace. The first is that the worldwide increase in hunger driven primarily by climate change violent conflicts, second availability of foundational for Consequently, policies, programmes, finances to strengthen systems need include action conflict mitigation, but this recognition has been taking place slowly among global security system agents. Security Council UN—the highest organisation tasked with maintaining international peace security—passed, 2019, a historic statement, Resolution 2417,1UN CouncilResolution 2417.http://unscr.com/en/resolutions/doc/2417Date: May 24, 2018Date accessed: April 1, 2021Google Scholar acknowledging link between conflict. This recognises “the break vicious cycle armed insecurity”. numbers are clear: about 490 million 800 people world who face chronic insecurity live countries affected conflict,2FAOIFADUNICEFWFPWHOThe state nutrition world.http://www.fao.org/state-of-food-security-nutrition/2018/enDate: 74 110 facing acute located 21 insecurity.3Food Information NetworkGlobal report crises.https://www.wfp.org/publications/2019-global-report-food-crisesDate: September, 2019Date Sustainable Development Goals, harmonised 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, set up ambitious goals end poverty hunger, providing strategic framework development 2030. Worryingly, however, growing evidence shows failing. They fail, first, produce distribute enough feed population; second, meet nutritional needs third, benefit everyone equally equitably, both overconsumption underconsumption rife; lastly, operate without exerting severe adverse effects environment natural resources.4Béné C Oosterveer P Lamotte L et al.2019. When sustainability—current narratives implications actions.World Dev. 2013; 113: 116-130Crossref Scopus (123) Google Without adequately addressing problems our systems, any ambitions Goals will be unreachable; while conflicts can also trigger violence conflicts. Approaches go beyond fixing broken aim at transforming them designed implemented. At level, coordinated vision needed. A review Copenhagen Accord (2009), Cancun Agreement (2010), (2015) approaches address variability progressive stop short articulating how exacerbates through its impact systems. Harmonised financing Five years after adoption funding sources achieve those falling remarkably short, gap available required US$ 2·5 trillion annually.5United Nations Conference Trade DevelopmentSDG Investment Trends Monitor.https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/diaemisc2019d4_en.pdfDate: Instead alignment, we currently find humanitarian, development, objectives competing primacy resources. operational actions must root causes failing as well respond Government debates still favour militarised securitised responses to, instance, non-state threats. However, research security-centric measures have failed crises have, times, further undermined livelihoods damaged social contract, case Lake Chad.6Nagarajan Pohl B Rüttinger al.Climate-fragility profile: Chad basin. adelphi, Berlin2018https://www.adelphi.de/en/system/files/mediathek/bilder/Lake%20Chad%20Climate-Fragility%20Profile%20-%20adelphi_0.pdfDate Strengthening linkages these measures, such Global Peace Index or Positive Index,7Institute Economics PeaceGlobal index 2020: measuring complex world. IEP, Sydney2020https://www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GPI_2020_web.pdfDate concrete systems8Global Alliance Improved NutritionJohns Hopkins UniversityThe dashboard.https://www.foodsystemsdashboard.orgDate: 2020Date would provide more holistic understanding crisis exacerbating could affect worldwide. community starting acknowledge importance security. Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded 2020 Prize World Food Programme. UN acknowledges accelerating progress towards dedicates Action Track 5 2021 Systems Summit building resilience environmental, conflictual, economic shocks stressors. In context an increasingly crisis, science, policy, geostrategic imperatives connect deliver common picture situation there time source, instead consequences not-so-distant future. combined effort requires closer collaboration intervenient parties along humanitarian-development-peace nexus design implement systemic and, thus, reinvigorating rural livelihoods. vital role furthering existing risk. thus crucial inform transformation support security, therefore, assist makers, donors, organisations scientifically sound, informed decisions. We declare no interests.