Climate Action Can Help Fight Hunger, Avoid Conflicts, Official Tells Security Council, Urging Greater Investment in Adaptation, Resilience, Clean Energy

Feb 13, 2024 | UN
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With the accelerating climate crisis and multiplying conflicts, over 330 million people were affected by acute food insecurity in 2023, the Secretary-General told the Security Council today, as speakers outlined strategies to break the deadly nexus of hunger, conflict and climate chaos.

Further, droughts in the Panama Canal and violence in the Red Sea are throwing supply chains into disarray, he said, pointing to 18 “hunger hotspots” facing an acute deterioration.  The answer to the mounting threats to peace and security is “turbocharging progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals — including our goal of zero hunger”, he said, highlighting the importance of the Summit of the Future. He went on to underscore the vital role of national adaptation plans, climate finance, and new and stronger nationally determined contributions in reducing vulnerability and preventing hunger and conflict.  Every national adaptation plan submitted to the Framework Convention to date identifies increasing food security as a priority. 

Turning to financing, he emphasized that developing countries — burdened by the cost-of-living crisis and unsustainable debt levels — simply cannot afford to invest in climate action and resilient food systems.  To this end, he proposed a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Recovery Plan — worth $500 billion annually — for affordable, long-term financing for sustainable development and climate action.  At the same time, developing countries must prioritize expenditure to achieve the SDGs.