Global Humanitarian Policy Forum FAO-Organized Climate Action Interactive Segment: The Criticality of Scaling Up Climate Action to Fight Hunger in Fragile and Conflict Settings

OVERVIEW: 

Acute food insecurity and humanitarian needs remain unacceptably high, especially in fragile and conflict-affected communities. For many already facing conflict, displacement or economic hardship, climate shocks can be the final push into extreme hunger. The 2024 Global Report on Food Crises notes that climatic shocks drove food insecurity for almost 72 million people in 18 countries – mainly in fragile, conflict-affected situations. 

Those least contributing to climate change bear the brunt of loss and damage from climate shocks and stresses -- including stronger El Niño and La Niña events. These events devastate weather-dependent livelihoods, including small-scale farmers, herders, fishers, tree-depending communities and food workers. Food producers are particularly vulnerable; an FAO report shows USD 4 trillion in crops and livestock has been lost over the past three decades to disaster, including climatic shocks. 

Despite their vulnerability and limited capacity to prevent, anticipate, absorb and adapt to extreme and slow onset weather events, fragile and conflict settings are largely excluded from climate financing.  A World Bank study indicates these areas receive only two-thirds of the adaptation finance committed to other low-income countries. High-intensity conflict settings receive about half of the adaptation funds per capita compared to medium intensity conflict or institutional fragility. 

UNFCCC COP29 underscored the critical role of climate finance, setting the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) at $300 billion annually for developing countries until 2030, emphasizing the need for increased funding in fragile and conflict settings. Increasing investments in transforming agrifood systems were highlighted as key climate solutions. The Baku Harmonia Initiative for Farmers launched during COP29 Food, Agriculture and Water Thematic Day aims to increase climate resilience and empower rural communities and farmers as part of this effort. 

This event will explore pathways for translating climate commitments and relevant initiatives made at COP29 into practice and scaling up climate finance to build climate-resilient agrifood systems, tackle the interconnected climate and food crises, and break cycles of food insecurity and hunger in fragile and conflict-affected settings. 

This session is organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 

GUIDING QUESTIONS: 

• The Policy Framework: What are leading examples of policy frameworks for building community resilience in the face of climatic shocks in fragile, food insecure contexts? How can current policy frameworks evolve to be better fit for purpose in scaling up climate action by and with vulnerable and affected communities facing hunger?  
• The Financing: What are recent climate financing breakthroughs that should be further expanded to tip the scales in fragile and acute food insecurity contexts? What would be the expected return on investment? 
• The Action: What existing and innovative solutions can we learn from when building resilient agrifood systems that can also help prevent, anticipate, absorb and adapt to future climatic shocks and stresses? Do we have the capacities and tools to scale them up to a sustainable level in more fragile contexts? 
• The Way Forward: What more is needed to heed the call for climate action and finance in efforts to tackle the interconnected climate and hunger crisis? What can we learn from local voices, including women and girls, with agriculture and food related livelihoods, in fragile and climate-affected communities?