UN Chief Calls For Unitedly Tackling Growing Hunger, Poor Nutrition
Sumaira FH Published July 26, 2021 | 09:50 PM
Inefficient global food production is at the root of a huge rise in hunger as well as one-third of all emissions and 80 per cent of biodiversity loss, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned, in a call to all countries to transform food systems to speed up sustainable development
UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jul, 2021 ) :Inefficient global food production is at the root of a huge rise in hunger as well as one-third of all emissions and 80 per cent of biodiversity loss, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned, in a call to all countries to transform food systems to speed up sustainable development.
Up to 811 million people faced hunger in 2020 - as many as 161 million more than in 2019 -- he said, at the Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems Summit in Rome beginning Monday.
Pointing to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN chief added that three billion people cannot afford to eat healthily, either.
"We are seriously off track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030", said the UN chief, who highlighted how "poverty, income inequality and the high cost of food" were responsible for these ills, and how climate change and conflict are were "consequences and drivers of this catastrophe".
Echoing those concerns and urging action at this week's Pre-Summit, UN Deputy-Secretary-General Amina Mohammed insisted that tackling growing hunger and poor nutrition were challenges that the international community should rise to, "as we have the means to do it".
Ms. Mohammed welcomed the fact that 145 countries had already embarked on national dialogues to decide on how sustainable food systems should look by 2030, in reference to regular online meetings, public forums and surveys with youth, farmers, indigenous peoples, civil society, researchers, private sector, policy leaders and ministers of agriculture, environment, health, nutrition and finance.
The outcome of these exchanges will contribute to suggested actions organized around the Summit's five action tracks to transform food production and leverage the far-reaching significance of food systems to help achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Deputy UN chief said.
"There is no one size that fits all. We must work country by country, region by region, community by community, to ensure the diversity of needs are addressed to support each reality. The same applies for our food systems and the changes that are required so that we feed the world, without starving the planet of its future." The Pre-Summit, which is being held in a hybrid format, brings delegates together from more than 100 countries to launch a set of new commitments through coalitions of action and mobilize new financing and partnerships.
Ms. Mohammed highlighted how the pandemic had reversed efforts towards sustainable development, with latest UN data indicating that around 100 million people have been pushed into poverty since the start of the global health crisis.
But she insisted that this week's meeting in Rome hosted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had the opportunity to "drive progress" on the delivering the 2030 Agenda, by agreeing positions on sustainable solutions, ahead of the Leaders' UN Food Systems Summit in New York in September.
"Through the 2030 Agenda, we agree to transform our world. We can only do that by working together," Ms. Mohammed said.
"That means we must listen to one another, appreciate diverse perspectives and understand the dynamic and interconnected challenges that we face. It means we must commit to making the choices that are needed to ensure we leave no one or country behind."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 20 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 20 April 2024
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
More Stories From World
-
AI's relentless rise gives journalists tough choices
52 seconds ago -
Formula One: Chinese Grand Prix sprint race results
1 minute ago -
Weekend job: Trump hits campaign trail on days off from trial
1 minute ago -
Pogacar aims to halt Van der Poel's bid to emulate Merckx 1975 record
41 minutes ago -
'Bombing' hits Iraq military base: security sources
41 minutes ago -
Heat and Pelicans overcome key absences to take final playoff spots
51 minutes ago
-
India pushes Maoist rebel strongholds on road to democracy
51 minutes ago -
Verstappen wins Chinese Grand Prix sprint race
1 hour ago -
Second Ecuadoran mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
1 hour ago -
Togo lawmakers approve contested political reform
1 hour ago -
Verstappen blasts past Hamilton to win Chinese GP sprint
1 hour ago -
Taylor Swift, tortured poet, exorcises demons with new double album
1 hour ago