Resilient Cities – ensuring food security through climate change adaptation

31/05/10 - Urbanization brings new challenges relating to food and nutrition security to cities all over the world, and the impacts of climate change are, arguably, increasing these. As in rural areas, land degradation and desertification are equally problematic in cities that suffer from effects of land degradation due to urbanization and urban practices in general. Ensuring food security through adaptation may come through a variety of different approaches that include diversifying and adapting local and traditional food, securing watershed management and adapting supply-demand linkages for adequate food supply and processing.

These issues were discussed at the thematic panel session yesterday, co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UNCCD secretariat during the 1st World Congress on Cities and Adaptation to Climate Change in Bonn, Germany. The UNCCD Executive Secretary spoke during the session as a panelist, stressing that the importance of the agricultural productivity in the drylands where one third of the world population lives. Other panellists at the session were Ms. Marielle Dubbeling, Global Coordinator of the RUAF, Netherlands and Mr. Andre Mader, Senior Professional Officer, ICLEI Africa Secretariat. About 40 participants actively exchanged their experience and ideas on ensuring food security in cities.

Read the statement of the UNCCD Executive Secretary

More information on the panel session here