Achieving SDG2 without breaking 1.5C threshold: A Global Roadmap - statement by H.E. Rebecca Bryant, Deputy Permanent Representative, Australian Mission to the United Nations

Thank you, Angelica, and good afternoon everyone.

I think we can all agree that international cooperation is essential to support SIDS to address the combined challenges of food insecurity, malnutrition and climate change.

The challenges are certainly immense.

Globally 730 million people are hungry, and a staggering three billion people can’t afford a healthy diet.

We are all aware of the main drivers of global food insecurity: climate change, conflict, the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic, rising costs and other economic shocks.

We also know that SIDS are the least responsible for these drivers, but are disproportionately impacted by them.

In SIDS, climate change impacts every aspect of food availability, exerting additional pressure on already stressed food systems.

The lack of access to enough nutritious food is also a driver of very high levels of diet-related non-communicable diseases.

So what can the international community do to support SIDS to address these challenges?

First, we can all support SIDS by delivering on the ambitious commitments we made in the Paris Agreement and at subsequent COPs –

including most recently at COP28, to accelerated efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. 

At COP28, Australia supported the commitments to:

-         triple global renewable energy by 2030,

-         transition away from fossil fuels to achieve net zero by 2050,

-         and establish a loss and damage fund to support developing countries address the impacts of climate change.

Australia recognises the strong link between agriculture, food systems and climate change, and the importance of making agriculture part of the solution to climate change.

At COP28, Australia signed the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems and Climate Action, committing to:

-         integrate food into our climate plans by 2025,

-         scale-up adaptation and resilience activities in the agriculture sector,

-         and maximise the climate and environmental benefits associated with agriculture and food systems.

Second, we can support SIDS to build their long-term food system resilience through climate-resilient agriculture.

Australia does this through providing financial and technical assistance in our region to help our partners adapt their agricultural sectors in the face of climate change and disasters.

For example, Australia’s Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) has provided long term support to help the Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT) in Suva conserve the different varieties of food crops in the Pacific.

When food crops in a particular country are impacted by climate extreme events or disease outbreaks, CePaCT can provide planting materials to help them re-build.

Projects such as these help improve agricultural productivity and achieve better nutrition outcomes in SIDS.

And finally, Australia believes it is essential to support strong social protection systems that provide a safety net for those affected by food insecurity.

We are committed to helping strengthen national social protection systems in SIDS to ensure they are gender-responsive, support community and economic wellbeing, and help build resilience to future shocks.

We appreciate that each Small Island Developing State has its own unique challenges - from sea-level rise faced by Tuvalu, to hurricanes that have destroyed homes and devastated economies in Antigua and Barbuda.

Because each State is unique, the way they address the issues of food insecurity and climate change needs to suit their particular circumstances.

Australia recognises this in our new International Development policy where we focus on locally-lead solutions.

But locally-led solutions need to be complemented by global collective action.

Australia will continue to encourage coordination, solidarity and global actions to support SIDS to address the growing challenges of food insecurity, malnutrition, and climate change, and to help achieve the 2030 Agenda.

Thank you.