Climate change

by Cecilia Schubert

One of the greatest failures of the global system is unequal and inadequate access to food. As a consequence, children in poverty-stricken areas are not reaching their full potential, stunting in growth before reaching adult life.

Even if the world has witnessed significant gains in poverty alleviation in the past 100 years, far too many still live in powerlessness and harsh conditions. Many struggle daily to feed themselves and their families, said H. E. Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland in his opening speech at the Dublin conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Climate Justice. President Higgins addressed an audience representing 60 different countries, many of them farmers and development practitioners from the developing world.

On top of the many going to bed hungry everyday, we now need to manage the complex layers of climate change, he continued. Read more »

by Alexa Jay and James Hansen

Our research theme, Adaptation through managing climate risk, is leading efforts to build the resilience of agriculture and food systems to a variable and changing climate. From the field level to government policy, efforts to reduce the impacts of climate risk on food security depend increasingly on information and knowledge. Improving climate-related information and connecting it to those who need it is a vital part of our work. 

In an increasingly uncertain climate, climate information and advisory services can help farmers better manage risk and take advantage of favorable climate conditions. Climate services are receiving increasing attention among development organizations as a way to support climate change adaptation and immediate development goals. Read more »

By Vivian Atakos

Kenya recently launched the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) that will guide the transition of the country towards a low carbon climate resilient development pathway.

The plan further encourages people centered development, ensuring that climate change actions support the achievement of Kenya’s development goals. Read more »

by Doug Beare

“Why should we bother with gender and equality within the science of poverty reduction and improved nutrition?” asked Doug Beare during a session at the Conference on Climate Smart Agriculture in Davis, California. The special session discussed ways to increase the likelihood that research will influence changes in policies, institutions and technologies.

The answer is right in front of us. We should bother because evidence shows that by increasing female ‘agency’, food production can increase, which in turn leads to better nutritional and health outcomes. Therefore, tackling gender, social injustice and related barriers can have a profound impact on the society as a whole, Doug continued.

People need to understand the importance of gender and be willing to create capacity and competencies, and recognize that gender, does in fact matter.

So where do we go from this conviction? Doug emphasized, that what we now need is to think about how to make sure gender analysis is included in the research we conduct, and also what the challenges around this will be.

Read more »