Environment minister: Hunger, climate crisis must be tackled together
Brazilian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Marina Silva said Monday (Nov. 10) that hunger, poverty, and the climate crisis must be tackled together. She participated in an event at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém which brought together officials from different countries as well as other members of the Brazilian government.
“People lose their food systems and workplaces when there is flooding, when there is a typhoon or a hurricane, aggravated by climate change, as happened recently in Paraná [state, South Brazil], where an entire city was devastated with loss of life. They become more vulnerable,” she pointed out.
The minister stressed the need to think about climate change in parallel with the fight against inequality.
“Thinking about tackling inequality alongside tackling climate change is perfectly possible, and it is the only way to deal with both problems effectively,” she argued.
The event was also attended by Brazil’s Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family, and Hunger Alleviation Wellington Dias. He highlighted the need to strengthen social protection networks to respond to climate emergencies and reinforced the importance of traditional peoples in caring for the land, in addition to family farmers.
“There is no food security or climate resilience without those who care for the land, water, seeds, and production. Family farming provides most of our food,” said Dias. “At the same time, traditional peoples act as guardians of traditional planting techniques and the genetic diversity of our food. The productive forest is a path that integrates the social, environmental, and ecological,” she added.
On November 7, at the Climate Summit, 43 countries and the European Union approved the Belém Declaration on Hunger, Poverty, and People-Centered Climate Action. The commitment places the agenda of combating hunger and poverty at the center of global climate discussions.
At the event on Monday, Germany’s Minister for Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali Radovan praised Brazil’s initiative in developing the declaration and initiatives to combat hunger.
“This declaration represents a pioneering step in linking climate action, social protection, and food security. It recognizes that protecting the planet and protecting people must go hand in hand. Sustainable agriculture and inclusive rural development are essential to addressing the global climate challenge and ensuring that no one is left behind. Furthermore, the declaration makes it clear that social protection is a pillar of national and global climate action,” said the German minister.
