Major Group: Local Authorities
1
Third Session of the General Assembly Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals
22-24 May 2013
JOINT CLUSTER STATEMENT
Intervention delivered by Mr Andrew Davis, Head of the Delegation
of the Government of Catalonia to the United States, representing nrg4SD and the
Local Authorities Major Group
Informal dialogue on Food security and nutrition
Thank you Mr./Madam Chair.
Mr./Madam Chair, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to address the third session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals.
I will make my statement today on behalf of the Local Authorities Major Group.
The Rio+20 outcome document reaffirms the right of everyone to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger. It furthers acknowledges that food security and nutrition has become a pressing global challenge and, in this regard, reaffirms the commitment to enhancing food security and access to adequate, safe and nutritious food for present and future generations.
In this regard, we want to note that 16 years after the commitment at the First World Food Summit to half the then level of undernourished people by 2015, progress in this area has remained limited and the world food situation remains critical.
Taking this into account:
We would like to stress the paramount role played by the sub-national level in anticipating crises and concretely improving food security and nutrition. This underscores the need for a global territorial approach which takes into account the whole food chain.
Indeed, regions and local Governments are enablers that build partnership relations to act against food insecurity through: support for stakeholders in the development sector; structuring professional organizations; exchanges of know-how and expertise; political involvement and building up capabilities. In addition, there is a wealth of expertise in local and regional governments on land issues, and on access to and competition in the use of farming or urban land.
It has also been demonstrated that setting up short supply chains that encourage local consumption of local products, will act in favour of food self-sufficiency because it will bring down the level of reliance on imports.
Because of their knowledge and close proximity to territories, farmers and all stakeholders of the food chain, sub-national governments are legitimately to play their full part in designing and implementing food security policies launched by the National States. Besides, management and distribution of food stocks must be done at the level of regions and local Governments.
2
Regarding urban food systems, a holistic approach which integrates all aspects of the food system, not just peri-urban agriculture, is required. To further advance, we recommend assisting cities with knowledge sharing and training on planning for such an approach. This must also focus on synergies between work already being undertaken by local governments, for example on biodiversity and ecosystem services in cities, green building design and implementation, green urban economy, ICTs and public procurement.
Besides, considering the city-region and being informed of regional and global food supplies and issues is essential. This means local governments will be better prepared and able to withstand a disaster, bounce back, and rapidly move on afterwards. Strengthening the rural-urban interface for food systems will require creative ways to ensure connections between rural supplies and urban contexts, for the city-region and taking into account local food production, street food, retailers, food processing, nutrition and health. It is clear that a secure supply of food is an essential element of a healthy, sustainable and resilient city-region.
Local and regional governments require training and new skills on synergies with existing work on the topic, including rural-urban connections, so they can achieve strengthened food systems for their communities.
Considering these challenges, we want to affirm their commitment to work collaboratively to further the Sustainable Development Goals and the agenda post-2015 on food security and nutrition.
We are encouraged by the opportunity provided to us to address these issues in the Open Working Group and hope that these concerns will be taken into account.
Thank you.
Third Session of the General Assembly Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals
22-24 May 2013
JOINT CLUSTER STATEMENT
Intervention delivered by Mr Andrew Davis, Head of the Delegation
of the Government of Catalonia to the United States, representing nrg4SD and the
Local Authorities Major Group
Informal dialogue on Food security and nutrition
Thank you Mr./Madam Chair.
Mr./Madam Chair, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to address the third session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals.
I will make my statement today on behalf of the Local Authorities Major Group.
The Rio+20 outcome document reaffirms the right of everyone to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger. It furthers acknowledges that food security and nutrition has become a pressing global challenge and, in this regard, reaffirms the commitment to enhancing food security and access to adequate, safe and nutritious food for present and future generations.
In this regard, we want to note that 16 years after the commitment at the First World Food Summit to half the then level of undernourished people by 2015, progress in this area has remained limited and the world food situation remains critical.
Taking this into account:
We would like to stress the paramount role played by the sub-national level in anticipating crises and concretely improving food security and nutrition. This underscores the need for a global territorial approach which takes into account the whole food chain.
Indeed, regions and local Governments are enablers that build partnership relations to act against food insecurity through: support for stakeholders in the development sector; structuring professional organizations; exchanges of know-how and expertise; political involvement and building up capabilities. In addition, there is a wealth of expertise in local and regional governments on land issues, and on access to and competition in the use of farming or urban land.
It has also been demonstrated that setting up short supply chains that encourage local consumption of local products, will act in favour of food self-sufficiency because it will bring down the level of reliance on imports.
Because of their knowledge and close proximity to territories, farmers and all stakeholders of the food chain, sub-national governments are legitimately to play their full part in designing and implementing food security policies launched by the National States. Besides, management and distribution of food stocks must be done at the level of regions and local Governments.
2
Regarding urban food systems, a holistic approach which integrates all aspects of the food system, not just peri-urban agriculture, is required. To further advance, we recommend assisting cities with knowledge sharing and training on planning for such an approach. This must also focus on synergies between work already being undertaken by local governments, for example on biodiversity and ecosystem services in cities, green building design and implementation, green urban economy, ICTs and public procurement.
Besides, considering the city-region and being informed of regional and global food supplies and issues is essential. This means local governments will be better prepared and able to withstand a disaster, bounce back, and rapidly move on afterwards. Strengthening the rural-urban interface for food systems will require creative ways to ensure connections between rural supplies and urban contexts, for the city-region and taking into account local food production, street food, retailers, food processing, nutrition and health. It is clear that a secure supply of food is an essential element of a healthy, sustainable and resilient city-region.
Local and regional governments require training and new skills on synergies with existing work on the topic, including rural-urban connections, so they can achieve strengthened food systems for their communities.
Considering these challenges, we want to affirm their commitment to work collaboratively to further the Sustainable Development Goals and the agenda post-2015 on food security and nutrition.
We are encouraged by the opportunity provided to us to address these issues in the Open Working Group and hope that these concerns will be taken into account.
Thank you.