The new Montpellier Panel report ‘The Farms of Change: African Smallholders Responding to an Uncertain Climate Future’ was presented by Agriculture for Impact on Friday 25th September 2015, ahead of Climate Week in New York.
Africa is already battling against the impacts of climate change. Mean temperatures in Africa will rise faster than the global average, and agricultural losses in the region will amount to 2% to 7% of GDP by 2100. By 2050, hunger and child malnutrition could increase by as much as 20% as a result of climate change, reversing the gains achieved through the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) process whilst jeopardising the success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The report calls for donors and government to boost investment, to avoid problems that would have catastrophic results on African development such as major food shortages, increased child malnutrition, unplanned migration, food price hikes and exacerbated poverty.
The report advocates for this funding gap to be met through public and private resources, but allowing local governments to allocate funds according to need. The report analyses the finance options currently available to smallholders from multilateral funding mechanisms, as well as schemes such as carbon markets.
Media Coverage:
Africa’s farmers at a climate crossroads, This Is Africa
Farmers should drive climate-proofing, SciDevNet
Africa’s farmers need urgent “climate-proof” investments, BBC
African farmers need to be ready for climate change, African Business Review
Montpellier Panel report, Media Terre
African farmers need investment, Atlanta Blackstar
Climate stress will defeat African development without major investment, says Montpellier Panel, The News Hub
Climate stress – a threat to African development – Montpellier Panel report, B&FT Online
Il faut 18 milliards $/an aux petits agriculteurs africains pour s’adapter au changement climatique, Agence Ecofin
African smallholders responding to an uncertain climate future, AGRA Harvest
Urgent Need to Support African/Somali Farmers to Adapt to Climate Change and its Effects, SATG.org
