NEW
YORK, Sept. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- World
leaders gather in New York for the
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), to rebuild trust, reignite
solidarity among nations and rescue the UN's 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, including Sustainable Development Goals
for Zero Hunger and No Poverty. Alvaro
Lario, President of the UN's International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD), warns of the dire and irreversible
effects that the climate crisis will have on hunger and poverty if
we don't act now.
"The climate crisis hinders our efforts to eradicate hunger and
poverty. The growing global population is dependent on a diet that
places significant pressure on increasingly scarce land and water
resources. This exacerbates inequalities and social unrest," said
the President of the only UN development agency that focuses
exclusively on rural areas.
"It is imperative to invest in building resilience and in
adaptation to climate change. This cannot wait. Investing in
small-scale food producers is also vital to ensure a food secure
future. And sustainable, biodiverse food production is essential to
achieve sustainable development and climate goals. This also means
investing in the livelihoods of the most vulnerable men and women
around the world," he added.
Speaking of recent disasters like the earthquake in Morocco and extreme weather events like
massive flooding in Libya last
week, Lario emphasized that developing countries and the world's
poorest and most vulnerable people are on the frontlines of climate
change and development gains can be quickly lost when shocks
occur.
At the UNGA, Lario marks his first year in office and IFAD
continues to build momentum as a UN agency and international
financial institution that is fit-for-purpose. The recent
declaration issued by G20 leader's gathered in New Delhi emphasized IFAD's role in the "fight
against food insecurity," and encouraged member states to replenish
the UN Fund's resources.
Under current trends, 575 million people will still be living in
extreme poverty in 2030. It is estimated that there will be as many
people suffering from hunger by 2030 as in 2015 (600 million
people).
"Hunger remains a political issue, mostly caused by poverty,
inequality, conflict, corruption and overall lack of access to food
and resources. In a world of plenty, which produces enough food to
feed everyone, how can there be hundreds of millions going hungry?"
said the President of IFAD.
Media contact: Alberto Trillo
Barca | a.trillobarca@ifad.org
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SOURCE International Fund for Agricultural Development