Disasters, Climate Change and Development Nexus: Food Security Sector in Asia

Abstract

Climate change is one of the leading development challenges faced by humankind in the twenty-first century. One end, it has resulted from the aggressive development drivers and rapid economic growth. On the other end, climate change, extreme events, and associated hydrometeorological disasters, directly and indirectly, setback the development gains. Climate change mitigation can be accelerated through sound development policies, strategies, and programs. Climate change adaptation, coupled with upscaled disaster risk management, contributes to reducing the negative impacts of extreme events and other socio-economic shocks. Climate change, weather extremes, and disasters adversely impact food production and productivity in developing countries. Food security and access to food are considered fundamental human rights. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), goal number two, “Zero Hunger” to be achieved by the year 2030, highlights the importance of food security across the countries. However, achieving the ‘Zero Hunger’ milestone has been challenged due to climate change, extreme events, and disasters. Although there is a general consensus about the linkages between climate change and food security, the nexus between disasters, climate change, and sustainable development and their interconnections with food security have not been fully explored or well understood. Asia region, which homes to two-third of the world population and the highest number of reported annual disaster events, face unprecedented challenges in meeting food security and access to foods in the coming decade. Within this context, this chapter explores the complex inter-connectedness of disasters, climate change, and development in the food security sector in Asia.