Civil Society has developed a crucial role in addressing environmental matters at the global level, demonstrated in seminal events such as the Rio Summit in 1992. In advocacy, research and analysis, Civil Society Organizations have drawn attention over the last decade to the evidence and likely impacts of climate change. The range of civil society organizations potentially concerned by the consultation and subsequent High Level Conference are diverse, including farmers’ and other producer and consumers’ organizations, academic institutions, environmental and developmental NGOs, Indigenous Peoples Organizations, etc.
Growing evidence suggests that climate change will have significant impacts on the environment, production systems, and livelihoods worldwide. Impacts on lower income countries and vulnerable social groups remain estimates subject to a wide range of interpretation, but there has already been strong concern voiced by people’s organizations and many NGOs. Climate change may accentuate fluctuations in annual rainfall and its distribution, affect water availability, change sea levels, and impact species distribution and ecosystems.
Civil society will evaluate the challenges to producers, consumers and rural areas within the overall framework post-Kyoto. As the international community, governments and intergovernmental bodies establish guidelines for best practice propose concrete activities and adopt enabling policies rural producers will be at the heart of discussions on incentives and disincentives in agriculture. What will be offered for mitigation and to stimulate farmer adaptation and sustainability? What will be provided for environmental services and environmentally friendly agricultural practices? What will be the systems of consultation, implementation and enforcement in this regard?
As well as concerns about the impact of climate change, civil society has highlighted the possible implications of the rise in use of bioenergy. For example, the conversion of land to production for biofuels may have negative consequences for smallholders. Farmer leaders have noted that this could divert priorities in research from foods to fuels, stimulate large scale plantation production, increase prices for food and land, and have a negative impact on local ecology and smallholder livelihoods. |
