‘Tremendously off track’ to meet 2030 SDGs: UN chief

“High costs, coupled with persistently high levels of poverty and income inequality, continue to keep healthy diets out of reach for around three billion people, in every region of the world”, added António Guterres, in a statement highlighting the importance of the global Food Systems Summit, due to take place in September.  

Multiple triggers 

Although hunger has been on the rise for several years, the UN chief pointed out that in 2021, “we are failing to provide what is a fundamental right for people around the world”. 

And COVID-19 has not only made things worse, but also highlighted the linkages between inequality, poverty, food and disease.  

Despite a 300 per cent increase in global food production since the mid-1960s, according to the Secretary-General, “malnutrition is a leading factor contributing to reduced life expectancy”. 

He cited climate change as both “a driver and a consequence of hunger”, adding that “our war with nature” includes a food system that generates one third of all greenhouse gas emissions and is also responsible for up to 80 per cent of biodiversity loss. 

“And hunger drives conflict”, the UN chief reminded. 

No excuses 

As recognized in the 2030 Development Agenda, hunger and malnutrition are interconnected and must be addressed in conjunction with other global challenges. 

“It is time to keep our promise”, said Mr. Guterres. 

In a world of plenty, he stressed that it is unacceptable for billions of people to lack access to healthy diets and warned that time is running out to make “the urgent shifts” needed to limit global temperature rise. 

Before the Summit 

Prior to kicking off the Summit during the opening of the General Assembly in September, later this month the UN chief will convene a Pre-Summit in Rome to hammer out how to address hunger, the climate emergency, inequality and conflict together – all needed to urgently transform global food systems. 

“We have heard thousands of voices around the world and ideas of women, indigenous peoples and the young people that are the future of our food systems”, said Mr. Guterres, referring to national dialogues conducted across the globe. 

Their ideas on “green transitions” to promote decent work, improve technology access and reset humanity’s relationship with the planet, will all be fed into the Summit. 

‘Profound’ food relationship 

While supporting billions of jobs, food also brings families and communities together, reminded the Secretary-General. And making changes in food systems would not only limit pandemic impacts but also shift to a safer, fairer, more sustainable world. 

Describing the social, environmental and economic facets of food systems as “profound”, he spelled out: “Our relationship with food is a fundamental part of all aspects of life on earth”.  

Noting that the 2030 Agenda is the blueprint to recover from COVID, the UN chief stressed that investing in food system changes would support the transformation.  

“It is one of the smartest – and most necessary investments we can make”, he said. 

Healing people and planet 

Highlighting one national discussion over the issue, speaking in Nigeria, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed depicted changing food systems as “an opportunity to drive progress across all SDGs”.  

By working together and embracing the needed transformations, she maintained that both people and planet can be healed.  

“If we are to address the climate emergency, ensure better health and well-being of people, while also overcoming inequality, we must transform our food systems”, she told the Nigeria national consolidatory dialogue in Abuja, at the end of last month. 

Inputs and ideas 

The deputy chief observed that Nigeria had been a leader in conducting discussions throughout the country’s six geo-political zones. 

“It’s obvious that the dialogues have generated a wealth of inputs and ideas. But, crucially, they have also fostered opportunities for enhanced collaboration with one another”, she said. 

According to Ms. Mohammed, the dialogues have recognized the importance of the right to food and the need to strengthen partnerships across all sectors and at all scales.