Seeking new ways to address climate change and other pressing issues facing the Pacific
FAO Director-General stresses the need for an “all-government” approach
12/05/2015, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - The Eleventh Meeting of Southwest Pacific Ministers of Agriculture under
the theme “Climate Smart Agriculture” began today with Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister Leo Dion and FAO
Director-General José Graziano da Silva highlighting some of the pressing issues affecting the countries in the region.
“I believe that the theme Climate Smart Agriculture is timely in view of the fact that the Pacific region is highly
vulnerable to adverse climatic conditions such as cyclones, El Niño, sea level rise and storm surges,” Dion said during
his opening speech at the meeting which is being held in Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby.
”Clearly new approaches will be needed for a climate-constrained agriculture and high priority in this regard is
disaster preparedness and response,” Dion added.
In his statement to the ministers, FAO’s Director-General stressed how “climate change poses a threat to the very
survival of the Southwest Pacific, and in most of the small islands around the globe.”
“Climate change can only be addressed using an ‘all of government ’approach,” Graziano da Silva said, adding:
“Ministries of agriculture, fisheries and forestry need to be at the table when countries develop and implement domestic
policies to address climate change and national positions for the negotiations”.
“FAO is here to help you and provide you support on how to actively participate in those debates,” the FAO
Director-General said.
Malnutrition
Referring to undernourishment and the need for healthy diets, Deputy Prime Minister Dion noted how “persistent hunger
and malnutrition remains the norm for millions of our fellow citizens.”
“Global concerns on food security impose obligations on national governments to establish non-discriminatory and
non-political laws to ensure that their population has access to adequate food,” he added.
FAO’s Director General noted how “obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) have become important public health issues
worldwide, but especially for the Pacific Island Countries.”
Graziano da Silva said FAO will address the problem of nutrition and NCDs in the Pacific through a series of measures,
including the Pacific Regional Initiative on Value Chains for Food Security and Nutrition in the Pacific Islands.
ENDS