Food security and climate change

Prepared by the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) on food security and nutrition of the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS), this report is intended to feed policy debates during the 39th session of the CFS (October 2012). This version contains the analysis and recommendations of the HLPE, as approved by its Steering Committee in June 2012. This report reviews existing assessments on the effects of climate change on food security and nutrition and analyses the challenges and opportunities of adaptation and mitigation policies and actions for food security and nutrition. Chapter 1 analyses how food and nutrition security has been and is currently affected by climate change in various regions and among various groups, particularly the most vulnerable. Chapter 2 presents a review of scenarios of potential impacts of future climate change. Chapters 3 and 4 discuss options for adaptation and mitigation policies in agriculture. Chapter 5 proposes a set of policy principles and messages to provide guidance for developing national relevant policies and programmes and that can also assist international activities.

HLPE - June 2012