ICTSD-IPC Platform on Climate Change, Agriculture and Trade: Considerations for Policymakers

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Climate change will significantly affect the agricultural sector in most countries, presenting substantial development and trade challenges. Changes in temperature and precipitation, together with an increased frequency of extreme climatic events such as droughts and floods and an increased incidence of agricultural pests and diseases, will affect yields - especially in seasonally dry and tropical regions. Not only will these trends threaten the livelihood of farmers, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, they also risk undermining global food security, since global food demand is expected to require agricultural production to more than double by the year 2050.

In light of these challenges, a particular focus on helping the agricultural sector adapt to climate change is required.  The agricultural sector is, however, also a significant contributor of greenhouse gas emissions and has the potential to play an important role in climate change  mitigation. In developing countries, emissions from agriculture and land use change account for the bulk of total emissions.  Since climate change and food security are interrelated global challenges, coherent and coordinated action at the global level will be required  to establish meaningful policy solutions;  without such coherence, policies to address climate change risk impairing global food security.   Efforts   should focus on policies delivering win-win outcomes that enhance agricultural productivity, promote food security and a sustainable livelihood, and at the same time contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Climate change is projected to cause a concentration of food and fiber production in some countries and cause food shortages and increased dependency on food imports in a group of developing countries - mostly located in the tropical regions.  Thus, open, equitable and undistorted trade flows for food and agricultural products will become increasingly vital for food security, supported by adequate regulatory policies and measures.  Moreover, trade can also serve as an important climate change adaptation and mitigation tool.  For these reasons, it is imperative that climate change policies and international food and agricultural trade rule are not at odds with each other.

One response to “ICTSD-IPC Platform on Climate Change, Agriculture and Trade: Considerations for Policymakers”

1. Stuart Clark 13th November 2009 at 20:38

   Well intentioned activities linked to either increasing food production and/or mitigating climate change must consider a third vital factor - the impact on the food security of the most vulnerable. Using a right to food impact assessment framework will be important if we are to ensure that we ‘do no harm’ with such activities.

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