The United Nations chief has warned climate chaos and food crises are increasing threats to global peace, saying disasters imperil food production and "empty bellies fuel unrest".
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged UN Security Council members to address the impact of food shortages and rising temperatures on international peace and security.
"Climate and conflict are two leading drivers of (our) global food crisis," he told a meeting of the council on Wednesday.
"Where wars rage, hunger reigns - whether due to displacement of people, destruction of agriculture, damage to infrastructure, or deliberate policies of denial.
"Meanwhile, climate chaos is imperilling food production the world over."
Guterres said the world is teeming with examples of "the devastating relationship between hunger and conflict".
In Gaza, he said, no one has enough to eat and the tiny strip accounts for 80 per cent of the 700,000 hungriest people in the world.
After more than a decade of war in Syria, he said, 13 million Syrians go to bed hungry every night.
And in Myanmar, prospects of ending hunger have gone into reverse because of conflict and instability, he said.
Simon Stiell, the United Nations climate chief, told the council climate change is contributing to food insecurity and to conflict.
He said one in 10 people on the planet already suffers from chronic hunger and if climate change accelerates, "it will become worse".
"Rapid, sustained action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and to increase resilience is needed now to help stop both from spiralling out of control," Stiell said.
Guyana's President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, whose country holds the council presidency this month and chaired the meeting, said the impact of climate change and food insecurity on international peace and security was chosen as the topic for the meeting because of the increasing links.
About 90 countries are expected to speak at the meeting over two days.
Australian Associated Press
