Intervention at the Ministerial Session DSDS 06.02.2009

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen 
Mr/Ms Chairperson,

Climate change is the most serious threat facing our societies. All necessary means should be applied to reduce carbon emissions and impacts of global warming.

As Minister of Agriculture and Food, I am particularly concerned about the effect of climate change on food security. This effect is already felt especially in developing countries, where conditions for food production are more unpredictable and adverse.

The solutions to climate change and food insecurity are complex.  As the Minister of Agriculture and Food in Norway, I am responsible for both agricultural and forest policies. It is crucial that we see these sectors as closely linked when facing the challenges of climate change and food insecurity.

Firstly, I wish to stress the role of forests in climate change mitigation. It is a widely accepted fact that deforestation and forest degradation leads to significant co2 emissions. It is not possible to reach our goals in climate change policies without reducing deforestation and forest degradation.  At the same time, use of forest resources represents a way to cover basic needs and achieve economic development.

Forest resources contribute to food security in many parts of the world. Many people in developing countries rely on forests for their daily livelihoods. They depend on forests for food, material and energy. Forests are also an important reservoir of biological diversity.

Economic development based on forest resources is possible without increasing the amount of co2 in the atmosphere, thus being carbon neutral. This will require enhancement of existing forests as well as afforestation and reforestation efforts.

Therefore, implementation of sustainable forest management is a key component in our efforts to mitigate climate change.

Secondly, we must also realise that the major direct cause of deforestation is the need for agricultural land. In some parts of the world, demand for agricultural land comes from industrial agriculture. However, in other parts of the world these demands derive from subsistence agriculture. For these farmers, food insecurity is real, and must be dealt with. Preserving forest resources does not change the fact that we need to produce more food.

A key point, therefore, is that we cannot accept starvation and famine to be a solution to climate change. Climate change and food insecurity are closely linked, and if we are to solve either of these challenges we need to come up with solutions that are mutually supportive. If we want to gain support for the fight against climate change, we will only find it among those that have food on their plates and prospects for a better future.

Meeting the challenges of climate change and food insecurity requires a massive effort by developed and developing countries. The importance of investment in agriculture is increasingly recognised. An example is The World Bank report from 2008, which argues that the agricultural sector must be placed at the center of the development agenda. The recognition of the importance of sustainable management of forests is also increasing. These challenges can be met, and they must be met.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Agriculture is founded on the diversity of plant and animal genetic resources, and on their ability to adapt to change. This diversity is crucial for the world’s food security. It is of grave concern that this diversity is being lost, a concern that is intensified by the challenges of climate change.

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is an important example of what can be achieved through collaborative action. The treaty establishes common rules for access to crop diversity and equitable sharing of the benefits of such resources. The treaty has also provisions on farmer’s rights, recognising the conservation and development of crop diversity that take place in the fields of farmers using local crops in traditional agricultural systems. 

Norway has taken a proactive role through the Svalbard global Seed Vault. The seed vault which was opened last year provides an extra layer of security for gene bank collections of plant diversity for food and agriculture. The seed vault has also contributed to raising global awareness of the need to protect crop biodiversity. 

Trade is a third area I want to mention, where the links to both climate change and food security are undeniable. In the preamble to the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture, the members note that commitments should be made “in an equitable way among all Members, having regard to non-trade concerns, including food security and the need to protect the environment”. We need to be guided by these principles also in our future work. But it needs to be an agreement that is good for all members, particularly those that have yet to reap the full benefits of the trading system. When we continue our search for a Doha Agreement in the WTO, we should not waiver from this most important stance: that we shall encourage ambition and leadership, but we will not sacrifice our climate or our food security on the altar of trade. The solution to the global challenges of climate change, poverty reduction and food security cannot be to leave food production to a handful of powerful exporters. It is increasingly important, and acknowledged, that all countries should maintain an appropriate level of self sufficiency.

To sum up, I want to emphasise that the challenges we face can be met through our joint efforts. Climate change and food insecurity are closely linked, and hence our policies must reflect this reality and be mutually supportive. The sustainable management of our resources is both important as instruments of climate change mitigation and as a pre-requisite for development.