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CGIAR Climate

Action statement by Scaling Up Nutrition Movement Lead Group members on the climate-food-nutrition nexus

November 4, 2022 - Last update: December 16, 2022

Twelve years ago, in the aftermath of a global food and nutrition crisis that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and impacted millions more, particularly those of women and children, the world came together with one of the boldest attempts to end malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement was created, harnessing the collective power of countries, civil society, the private sector, donors and United Nations agencies to ensure that all people are not only free from hunger but also adequately nourished to fulfil their potential.

Today, as the world faces yet another devastating food and nutrition crisis caused by the convergence of the impacts of conflict, climate change and the economic fallout from COVID-19, we, as members of the SUN Lead Group, call for an acceleration of joined-up action and a sharp increase of investment in healthy, sustainable and resilient food systems at the country level.

As SUN Movement Lead Group members we recognize that,

Nutrition, as enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals and as a key pathway to achieving so many of the SDGs, is critical to the health, cognitive development, wellbeing and prosperity of all people, especially women and children – yet more than three billion people worldwide are not able to afford a healthy diet. 

Climate change is heavily and increasingly impacting ecosystems on which millions of people rely for food and nutrition – with the world’s poorest most impacted by climate change and at risk for nutrition insecurity.  

While food security is essential to keeping people alive, a focus on both food and nutrition security is needed to (re)build resilience.  Preventing malnutrition will not only save countless lives but will also create opportunities for a generation of children, their families and communities to pursue healthy and resilient lives.

With current food systems potentially responsible for more than a third of greenhouse gas emissions, there is no pathway to reach agreed climate targets without more efficient, sustainable and innovative approaches to the ways we produce, distribute and consume food.  

Despite repeated calls from leaders across the world, including youth leaders who are vocal on this issue, food systems and nutrition are not yet enshrined in the climate agenda. 

As the SUN Movement Lead Group, we are committed to seizing opportunities around upcoming UN Climate Change Conferences, UN Food Systems Summit stock taking, UN Summit of the Future and other fora as mechanisms to prevent all forms of malnutrition.

We are ready to take action by leveraging our collective and individual influence to,

Advocate for a food systems and nutrition workstream to be part of the formal United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process and welcome an increase in climate financing for a rapid transition towards sustainable food systems.

Accelerate the alignment of climate financing and nutrition investments to promote healthy, sustainable and resilient food systems that support healthy people and a healthy planet, leave no one behind, draw on the evidence base and consolidate the investment case in ways that compel everyone to act.

Encourage increased adaptation funding to the 65 SUN Member countries to advance their country-driven solutions to current crises and accelerate the transformation to climate-resilient nutrition-sensitive food systems, including through enhanced technological capacities and knowledge exchanges that support food producers, communities and our planet.

Ensure a stronger multistakeholder and multisectoral approach and collaboration at country level, so that all stakeholders, including women, youth and children, the most vulnerable and those hardest hit by climate change and conflicts, are included in a just transformation and own the solutions that build sustainability, resilience and prosperity for people and the planet.

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