wfn.org | Climate change a drag on food supply says CWS advocacy head

["Lesley Crosson" <lcrosson@churchworldservice.org>]

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Climate change a drag on food supply says CWS advocacy head

NEW YORK CITY, Sept 23, 2009--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.

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, 212-870-2676, media@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526, jdragin@gis.net