GA-ECOSOC Panel 2: Thematic Event “El Niño 2023-2024: Actions for the safety, sustainability and resilience of people and the planet”

What have we learned from the initiatives led by governments and partners in response to the immediate impacts of El Niño to date? And how can these initiatives also contribute to addressing the long-term issue of climate-related disasters, restoring needed agricultural activities, and building resilience for future generations? 

• Thank you for inviting me to speak on behalf of FAO. 
• As we have heard extensively today, in 2023, El Niño contributed to altering temperature and rainfall patterns around the world, from floods in Eastern Africa, to abnormally dry conditions in parts of Southern Africa and Central America. 
• Over the years, we have learned from our collective experiences in dealing with El Niño and its impacts. 
• Using modelling based on previous El Niño-driven weather patterns and impacts on livelihoods and food production, FAO together with governments and partners acted fast to avert the worst of its effects, launching- anticipatory actions in 23 countries at risk globally (in 2023 and 2024).  
• This time around, anticipatory actions for El Niño were triggered by early warning information that was both more easily available and accurate. 
• The timeliness and success of nationally designed and nationally led anticipatory actions are largely due to the extensive work done with governments to enhance anticipation and preparedness capacities and on significant changes to humanitarian protocols and financing that facilitated anticipatory action. 
• Let me to share with you some key examples:  

• In July 2023, forecasts of above-average rains in Somalia during the Deyr season pointed to a heightened risk of losses in agricultural assets and livelihoods. Working closely with local authorities, FAO targeted at-risk communities with Anticipatory Action interventions to safeguard their livelihoods. Flood-prone farming households received quality seeds, grain storage materials and unconditional cash transfers, and received training on post-harvest storage, crop protection, and irrigation practices to enhance their preparedness. 
• In Madagascar, FAO worked with national authorities to ensure the most vulnerable households received comprehensive assistance packages, including unconditional cash as well as agricultural, livestock and fishing inputs. FAO also trained national extension service personnel and farmers on climate-smart agricultural practices to enhance resilience to future shocks.
• In late 2023, forecasts of below-normal precipitation in Bolivia, prompted FAO and national authorities to provide water harvesting storage and supply systems, animal feed and animal health interventions, as well as the distribution of drought tolerant seeds and other agricultural inputs vulnerable farming households in Altiplano.
• These examples showcase why we must dramatically improve our ability to anticipate, act swiftly, and build long-term climate resilience, 
• WE KNOW that we can get ahead of disasters, avert and minimize disaster impacts, and ultimately reduce humanitarian needs.
• I’ll conclude by challenging us to broaden the focus beyond immediate response efforts to include longer-term solutions to avert and minimize the loss and damages from El Niño and other climate extremes.
• Let’s better link humanitarian, development and peace efforts to deliver the best solutions for the challenges of today and the future. 
• International collaboration is key. – We need to join efforts to have better quality data to inform decisions and interventions.
• We need to invest where it is needed most. This means, investing in early warning systems to be able to translate forecasts into actionable measures. 
• It is also critical that we equip farmers and communities to be better prepared for, respond to and recover from crises in the face of the impacts of El Niño. It is imperative that we invest in agriculture.
• Finally, to scale up anticipatory action and building climate resilience, we need adequate funding and resources that are flexible and that are secured in advance. 
• And finally, underpinning the recommendations we have heard from today’s esteemed panelists is the requirement that we bridge the gap between information and action. 
• Sophisticated weather data, advanced meteorological models and subsequent Early warnings mean nothing unless they are followed by meaningful action. 
• Thank you.