2022 Global Food Policy Report: Impact of climate change threatens Bangladesh’s fishery, nourishment, ecosystem services (Dhaka Tribune) 

Dhaka Tribune published an article stating that in Bangladesh, the average annual temperatures have increased in the last six decades. IFPRI’s 2022 Global Food Policy Report notes that food systems are impacted by climate change, and it plays an equally critical causal role. Globally, food systems contribute more than one-third of the total greenhouse emissions. About one-fifth of total emissions come specifically from agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU). Investing in food systems transformation could thus result in stabilizing the climate in the future. Channing Arndt, Director of Environment and Production Technology division said, “There are several promising innovations that can be applied to adaptation but with more warming adaptation will become less effective. Eventually, we will all want a stabilized climate.” Director of the South Asia Region, Shahidur Rashid said, “Climate risks in South Asia are amplified by existing vulnerabilities, which have been further compounded by the impacts of Covid-19. It has led to a reduction in national income, overstretched social safety net programs, and disrupted livelihoods of millions of smallholders. Covid-19 along with climate change will make it extremely difficult for the region to achieve the SDG goals of zero hunger by 2030.” Some policy recommendations for South Asia highlighted in the report include increased investment in agricultural R&D, improved budget allocations towards promising sectors which are growing their share in agricultural GDP, reforms on fertilizer subsidies, and changes in energy policies to avoid wasteful usage of electricity and water for irrigation, and reforms in agricultural support to avoid overproduction of specific crops. Republished in Financial Express, Daily Sun.