“The Unjust Climate” report

• •Syllabus: Climate report*

• •Source: DD News*

Context: A national-level dialogue on FAO’s “The Unjust Climate” report, held in New Delhi on 16 October, focused on the climate vulnerabilities affecting India’s rural poor, particularly those trapped in multidimensional poverty

Key findings of FAO’s “The Unjust Climate” report:

• Poverty reduction with ongoing challenges: India has reduced rural poverty from 42.5% in 2005/06 to 8.6% in 2022/24, but transitory poverty remains, driven by extreme weather events.

• Gender disparities: Female-headed households experience 8% more income loss from heat stress and 3% more from floods, worsening existing gender inequalities.

• Vulnerability of rural poor: Poor households face 5% greater income loss due to heat stress and floods than wealthier households, reflecting the economic disparity in climate impacts.

• Maladaptive coping strategies: Rural poor resort to harmful strategies like selling livestock, increasing their vulnerability to future climate shocks.

• Worsening child labour and unpaid work: Climate extremes worsen child labour and unpaid work for women, perpetuating long-term social inequalities.

Policy Recommendations:

• Anticipatory social protection: Scaling up social protection programs ahead of extreme weather events can prevent households from resorting to adverse coping mechanisms like selling off productive assets.

• Workforce diversification: Investing in skills development and vocational training can help rural households diversify from climate-sensitive work, enhancing their resilience to income shocks.

• Gender-transformative approaches: Addressing gender norms and improving women’s access to non-farm employment is critical for income diversification and climate resilience.

• Participatory agricultural extension: Group-based agricultural experimentation helps rural farmers adapt to changing conditions, promoting shared learning and reducing individual risks.

• Access to adaptive technologies: Public investments in climate-resilient agricultural technologies are essential for supporting land-constrained households and improving rural livelihoods.

About the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):

• Established: FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations, established in October 1945, making it the oldest permanent specialized UN agency.

• Mandate: The FAO’s mission is to defeat hunger by improving nutrition, increasing agricultural productivity, raising rural living standards, and contributing to global economic growth.

• Key functions: Research: Conducts research and provides technical assistance in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land and water resources. Education: Operates educational programs, seminars, and training centers for agricultural development. Data and Statistics: Maintains global statistics on production, trade, and consumption of agricultural commodities. Publications: Publishes reports such as The State of the World’s Forests and The State of Food Security and Nutrition.

• Research: Conducts research and provides technical assistance in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land and water resources.

• Education: Operates educational programs, seminars, and training centers for agricultural development.

• Data and Statistics: Maintains global statistics on production, trade, and consumption of agricultural commodities.

• Publications: Publishes reports such as The State of the World’s Forests and The State of Food Security and Nutrition.

• Headquarters: Located in Rome, Italy.

• Membership: FAO has 194 member states, along with the European Union as a member organization.

• Funding: It receives 100% funding from its member countries.

• Relief operations: FAO does not directly manage food relief during conflicts or scarcity; such operations are usually overseen by the World Food Program (WFP).

• Key reports: FAO publishes various important reports like SOFO, SOFIA, SOCO, and SOFI, addressing global issues in forests, fisheries, agriculture, and food security.

Insta Links:

• FAO-committee-on-fisheries

• World fishery and aquaculture report, 2024

1. 1.The FAO accords the status of ‘Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)’ to traditional agricultural systems. What is the overall goal of this initiative? (UPSC-2016)

1. 1.To provide modern technology, training in modern farming methods and financial support to local communities of identified GIAHS so as to greatly enhance their agricultural productivity.

1. 1.To identify and safeguard eco-friendly traditional farm practices and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity and knowledge systems of the local communities.

1. 1.To provide Geographical Indication status to all the varieties of agricultural produce in such identified GIAHS.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: b)

1. 1.The effective management of land and water resources will drastically reduce the human miseries. Explain. (UPSC-2016)