By Jesus Quintana
ASUNCION, Paraguay, Oct 21 2024 – Climate change has thrown our food systems into chaos. Extreme weather events and dramatic climate variations are hammering food production and supply chains across the world. As global leaders gear up for COP29, there’s plenty of buzz about climate action. But can we really expect these slow-moving, bureaucratic negotiations to deliver tangible and swift results to decarbonize and insulate our agri-food systems? Most likely not. But do not despair. While the COP29 talks unfold, crucial climate solutions for transforming food systems are already taking root on the ground.

Jesus Quintana

In the exhilarating, Oscar-winning movie “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, the leading characters are surrounded by overwhelming chaos and complexity. Yet, within this confusion, small actions, and the determination of people behind them, spark powerful change. In stunning similarity, the climate crisis —particularly in food systems— feels like an insurmountable challenge with everything, droughts, floods, storms, hunger and other interlocked crises, striking everywhere, and all at once.

Urgent action is needed. Where do we turn? COP 29 will likely be stuck in slow-paced discussions. Meanwhile, transformative solutions are taking shape on the ground. Across the globe, communities, farmers, sponsors and innovators are quietly building resilience in their food systems, demonstrating that true progress often emerges from the margins, not the center of chaos. Just like in the metaphoric film, finding purpose and action amid disorder is where meaningful change begins.

Grassroots solutions for climate-resilient food systems

While world leaders talk and officials try to turn decisions into workable policies, local communities are already acting. Across the Global South, where the effects of climate change are being felt most acutely, smallholder farmers and grassroots organizations are implementing innovative practices that build resilience to climate shocks.

In regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Latin America, agroecology is gaining traction as a powerful tool for both mitigating and adapting to climate change. This farming approach, which draws on traditional knowledge and emphasizes sustainable, low-emission methods, is helping communities adapt to changing weather patterns while improving food security. Agroecology promotes biodiversity, improves soil health, and reduces dependency on chemical inputs, all of which enhance the resilience of agricultural systems to climate impacts and helps decarbonize them.

The private sector’s role in transforming food systems

Community movements and local governments are playing a vital role, but the private sector is also increasingly driving climate solutions in food systems. Market forces are pushing companies to innovate in ways that reduce agriculture’s climate footprint. The plant-based food revolution is an example of how the private sector is responding to the need for more sustainable diets that lower greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, alternative protein food-tech startups are leading the way towards a sustainable and tasty food future. These unconventional substitutes for traditional livestock farming offer a glimpse of how innovation can drive systemic changes in food production.

In addition to product innovation, there is growing corporate investment in regenerative agriculture—a practice that rebuilds soil health, captures carbon, and improves biodiversity. Large food companies, driven by consumer demand for sustainable products, are making commitments to source ingredients from regenerative farms, contributing to both climate mitigation and long-term food security.

Climate finance outside the COP processes

One of the most significant barriers to transforming food systems in the face of climate change is the lack of adequate financing. While COPs have made important commitments, such as the creation of the Green Climate Fund, the flow of funds has been slow and insufficient to meet the needs of vulnerable communities. In response, philanthropy and private finance are stepping in.

Some patrons and foundations are funding initiatives that help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change, while impact investors are supporting agri-tech innovations that boost productivity in a sustainable way. These efforts, although outside the COP framework, are critical in scaling climate-resilient food systems and achieving global net-zero targets.

Real solutions are happening now

While COP29 will no doubt produce important global agreements, the truth is that many of the solutions to the climate crisis—especially when it comes to food—are already in motion. Farmers, local communities, philanthropies and private companies are building a food system that is more resilient, sustainable, and low-carbon.

Global leaders must take notice. Yes, we need ambitious targets and international commitments. But we also need to support and scale the grassroots movements and private-sector innovations that are already leading the way. Real food security in a climate-challenged world will not be achieved through top-down solutions alone—it will come from empowering those on the frontlines.

As COP29 approaches, let’s not lose sight of what is happening beyond the negotiation tables. The future of food security depends on action today, led by those who can’t afford to wait.

Jesus Quintana is Senior Advisor on Sustainable Food Systems and former Director General, CIAT

IPS UN Bureau

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By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 21 2024 – On October 15, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the beginning of the second round of Gaza’s polio vaccination campaign. Over the last week, the Palestinian Ministry of Health, in partnership with WHO, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), has managed to vaccinate over 181,000 children under the age of ten in Gaza.

Although humanitarian organizations deemed initial vaccination efforts to be a relative success, the past month has seen a considerable uptick in hostilities as well as a tightening of restrictions. Constant bombardments, evacuation orders, and disruptions of humanitarian aid ensure that conditions all over Gaza remain dire.

Civilians in northern Gaza have been subjected to blockages of essential supplies, causing widespread starvation and dehydration. According to Joyce Msuya, the UN’s Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief, Israeli authorities had blocked all food deliveries from entering northern Gaza from October 2-15. The lack of fuel deliveries has only exacerbated the escalating hunger crisis.

Northern Gaza has also witnessed a significant decline in deliveries of drinking water. Repeated bombardments have destroyed Gaza’s water sanitation systems, rendering the majority of Gaza’s drinking water unsafe for human consumption. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), municipal wells in Jabalia and Beit Lahya yield no water whatsoever.

Therefore, thousands of Palestinians have been forced to rely on daily water shipments. Prior to October 2023, 380,000 cubic meters was distributed throughout Gaza. Today, it is reported that only 638 cubic meters are being distributed to the North Gaza governorate.

In the wake of the Israeli air strike into Beit Lahiya on October 20, which destroyed multiple residential buildings and trapped at least 87 people under the rubble according to the Ministry of Health, rescue operations have also been hindered due to the blockades that have thus far prevented essential aid into northern Gaza.

Humanitarian organizations fear that repeated blockages of essential supplies will aggravate nationwide health concerns ahead of the winter months. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reports that approximately 86 percent of all Gazans are facing emergency levels of hunger, with roughly 6 percent facing “catastrophic” levels of hunger. They warn that catastrophic hunger is projected to double in the winter, with conditions in tent camps to grow more harsh due to colder temperatures and decreased hygiene.

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), stated that continued bombardments have led to the displacement of almost the entire population of Gaza. “Many vulnerable groups are unable to relocate or find safe shelter. The majority are living in temporary makeshift camps with an alarming density of almost 40,000 people per square kilometer,” said Haq.

Displacement shelters in Gaza have become extremely crowded since the wake of the war, exacerbating unsafe living conditions and the spread of infectious diseases.

Overcrowding has led to aid personnel becoming overwhelmed. The IPC report states that continued airstrikes and evacuation orders from the IDF “have significantly disrupted humanitarian operations, and repeated displacements have steadily worn down people’s ability to cope and access food, water and medicine, deepening the vulnerability of entire communities”.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly denied allegations of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) blocking off aid and essential supplies. He continued to state that he is facilitating the delivery of more than 3,000 daily calories for each Gazan.

Over the weekend, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a statement to Israeli authorities, insisting that if Israel did not increase the deliveries of humanitarian aid in Gaza in the next 30 days, there could be a cessation of U.S. munitions being delivered to Israel for its conflicts with both Gaza and Lebanon.

With the second round of polio vaccinations starting in southern Lebanon on October 18th, the UN has stressed the importance of a humanitarian pause. They are currently on the frontlines of affected areas, rehabilitating Gaza’s water sanitation systems and distributing essential supplies wherever they can, in an attempt to prepare Gaza for the harsh conditions that are expected in the winter months.

IPS UN Bureau Report

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By Kizito Makoye
DAR ES SALAAM, Oct 21 2024 – At a rally to mark International Youth Day on August 12 in Tanzania’s southern Mbeya region, John Mnyika stood with a determined expression, addressing his supporters. The air was charged with anticipation. Mnyika, the Secretary-General of Tanzania’s opposition party, Chadema, was preparing to speak about the upcoming elections when the chaos erupted. Without warning, heavily armed police officers stormed the event, grabbed Mnyika, and dragged him away.

Amid the fracas, an officer ripped the rimless eyeglasses from Mnyika’s face and callously crushed them underfoot. “They beat me with clubs and the barrels of their guns,” Mnyika would later recount. “It was a calculated move to humiliate and silence us.” His voice trembled with anger, but he remained resolute. The brutality of that day was not an isolated event—it was a sign of a deeper malaise in Tanzania’s political landscape.

Tanzania’s promised reforms

When Samia Suluhu Hassan assumed the presidency in 2021, following the death of John Magufuli, there was hope for a new dawn. Samia, the first female leader of Tanzania, had promised to usher in a new era of democratic reform. She lifted bans on political rallies, allowed media outlets to reopen, and signaled a commitment to freedom of speech.

For a brief moment, it seemed as though Tanzania was emerging from the shadow of autocracy. Opposition parties, long suppressed under Magufuli’s rule, were allowed to hold rallies once more. Political discourse blossomed, and for the first time in years, the country appeared to be on the path toward genuine democracy.

But as the 2024 local elections approached, those hopes began to fade. The government’s promises of reform gave way to a resurgence of authoritarian tactics. The optimism that had accompanied Samia’s ascent to power was slowly being replaced by fear and uncertainty. Political violence was on the rise, opposition leaders were being silenced, and dissent was once again being met with brutal repression.

The return of repression

Mnyika’s ordeal was just one of many incidents that signaled a return to the heavy-handed tactics of the Magufuli era. On the same day as his arrest, Chadema Vice-Chairperson Tundu Lissu, along with over 500 supporters, was detained in what appeared to be a coordinated crackdown on the opposition. Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017, has long been a vocal critic of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.

“We are witnessing the death of democracy in real-time,” Lissu told reporters after his release. “The government wants to crush any form of opposition, and they are willing to use violence to achieve that goal.”

The Tanzanian government’s crackdown on opposition figures has not gone unnoticed. International human rights organizations and foreign governments have raised alarms about the escalating violence. In a joint statement, the United States and European Union called for an independent investigation into the growing number of politically motivated arrests and disappearances. But President Samia has remained defiant, asserting Tanzania’s sovereignty and dismissing foreign interference.

“We do not need outsiders to tell us how to run our country,” she said in a televised address, marking the 60th anniversary of the Tanzania Police Force. “We will investigate these incidents ourselves.”

The price of dissent

The crackdown on opposition parties is not only limited to arrests. In recent months, Tanzania has seen a sharp increase in politically motivated abductions and murders. One such case is the abduction and brutal killing of Ali Mohamed Kibao, a senior Chadema member. Witnesses described how Kibao was forcibly removed from a bus by armed men, only for his body to be found a day later, bearing the unmistakable signs of torture and acid burns.

“We are living in fear,” said Freeman Mbowe, Chadema’s leader. “If they can do this to someone like Kibao, what’s to stop them from coming for any one of us?”

The government’s response has been dismissive. Despite promises of investigations, no meaningful actions have been taken to hold the perpetrators accountable. Many suspect that the state security forces are behind the violence, though officials continue to deny any involvement.

A nation at the crossroads

As Tanzania approaches its 2025 general elections, the country finds itself at a dangerous crossroads. The political violence of the past year has raised fears that the country may be sliding back into authoritarianism. Samia, who once positioned herself as a reformer, now faces accusations of using the same repressive tactics as her predecessor.

“The optics are troubling. When opposition figures are targeted under the guise of legal procedures, it sends a message that political dissent will not be tolerated,” says Michael Bante, a political commentator based in Dar es Salaam It’s a significant setback for the progress we thought we were making under her leadership.”

While some may argue that these actions are necessary for stability, Bante believes it’s a dangerous precedent. “Tanzania’s democracy will only thrive if we can guarantee the space for all political voices to be heard—whether they align with the government or not.”

For many Tanzanians, the future seems grim. The escalating political violence has fostered an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, leaving many feeling helpless. “These are troubling times,” remarked Juma Mwinyi, a street vendor who saw the abduction of Kibao. “If they can snatch someone in the middle of the day, what’s to stop them from targeting the rest of us?”

The International Response

Internationally, Tanzania’s political situation has drawn widespread condemnation. Foreign governments have called on Samia to reverse course and restore the democratic freedoms that were promised when she took office. But so far, those calls have gone unanswered.

“President Samia has a choice to make,” says  Halima Mheta, a Tanzanian social justice activist. “She can be the leader who restores Tanzania’s democracy or the one who destroys it.”

As the nation waits for the upcoming elections, one thing is clear: the stakes have never been higher. For opposition leaders like John Mnyika and Tundu Lissu, the fight for democracy has never been more dangerous. But despite the risks, they remain determined.

“We will not be silenced,” Mnyika said defiantly. “Tanzania belongs to all of us, and we will fight for our right to be heard.”

For now, the future of Tanzania remains uncertain. But in the face of mounting repression, the country’s opposition leaders are determined to keep fighting, no matter the cost. As the political violence escalates and the government tightens its grip, the question remains: will Tanzania’s fragile democracy survive?

IPS UN Bureau Report

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By Pascal Lamy and Genevieve Pons
CALI, Colombia, Oct 21 2024 – COP16, the much-anticipated follow-up talks to the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) agreement, which aims to reverse an alarming loss of nature on land and sea, opens in Cali, Colombia.

Sometimes described as the “Paris Agreement for nature”, this legal framework agreed under the Chinese Presidency of the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity’s 15th COP, calls on the international community to reverse the biodiversity crisis, including by protecting 30 percent of the world’s land and 30 percent of its marine areas by 2030.

But, two years later, the world remains alarmingly off track. In the marine realm, for example, only 8.35 percent of the world’s ocean is currently protected. It is inconceivable that the 30X30 commitment will be met without a rapid expansion of protections in the high seas and Southern Ocean, which encompass nearly two-thirds of the global ocean.

Now time is running out.

A new report from the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) highlights how record heat waves and sea ice loss, driven by climate change, are reshaping the frozen continent and the waters surrounding it.

Such impacts are particularly alarming because research has shown that the Southern Ocean helps to stabilize the global climate by circulating cold water and nutrients to higher latitudes in a process known as the carbon pump. Its krill populations alone—with schools large enough to be seen from space—may store over 20 million tons of carbon annually, equivalent to taking 35 million cars off the road.

The problems in the Southern Ocean have been compounded in recent years by a rise in tourism, plastic pollution, and industrial-scale fishing in a place that not long ago was largely inaccessible to human activity.

Fortunately, study after study have shown that marine protected areas (MPAs) are one of the best ways for vulnerable ecosystems to build resilience as they adapt to new and increasing ecological pressures, and continue to provide the ecosystemic services humanity needs.

Additionally, talks over the fate of proposals to create four new MPAs in the Southern Ocean are now entering their final days at the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in Hobart, Australia. CCAMLR, established in 1982, is the only representative body with the mandate to designate these MPAs by consensus.

The Commission already demonstrated global leadership in science-based marine resource management and committed to create a representative network of MPAs in the Southern Ocean in 2009. It took time, but despite political differences, in 2016, the body created the world’s largest marine protected area in the Ross Sea, which now serves as a vital refuge for krill, fish, whales, and birds.

The Ross Sea Region MPA also demonstrated a willingness by the international community to put aside its differences for the sake of conservation and scientific discovery in the world’s last wilderness. Moreover, leaders at the most recent Group of 20 meeting, called on all nations with a stake in Antarctica to complete the approval process for a robust system of MPAs in the region.

Now, the commission’s members are considering four scientifically robust MPAs: Weddell Sea Phase 1 MPA, East Antarctic MPA, Domain 1 (Antarctic Peninsula) MPA, and Weddell Sea Phase 2 MPA. If all four MPA proposals are agreed, with existing protections, it will protect 26 percent of the Southern Ocean and nearly 3 percent of the global ocean.

This would be the largest act of ocean conservation in history and make a major contribution toward achieving 30×30.

The coalition of champions Antarctica2030, which we co-chair, is fully aligned with this objective, supporting every effort to ensure the protection of these critical marine areas and to help meet the global 30×30 target.

It hasn’t been easy, but time and again nations have shown we can find solutions that support our mutual political and environmental interests, even when we have other, significant differences.

Now CCAMLR nations, including China, have a rare opportunity to meet their international obligations and take a leadership role, potentially making the Southern Ocean the first large ecosystem in the world where the 30×30 objective is attained.

Geneviève Pons is the co-chair of Antarctica2030 and CEO of Europe Jacques Delors; Pascal Lamy is the co-chair of Antarctica2030 and Vice-President of the Paris Peace Forum.

IPS UN Bureau

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By Katsuhiro Asagiri
ASTANA/TOKYO , Oct 21 2024 – In a vibrant display of culture and tradition, Kazakhstan recently hosted the 5th World Nomad Games in Astana, celebrating the enduring spirit of nomadic heritage against a backdrop of modernity and globalization. This biennial event, which drew competitors and spectators from around the globe, served not only as a showcase of traditional sports but also as a poignant reminder of the resilience of a culture that faced near extinction under Soviet rule.

The Games, held from 8 – 13 September, featured a kaleidoscope of activities that harkened back to the lifestyles of the nomadic peoples who roamed the vast steppes of Central Asia. From horse wrestling to archery, each competition echoed the ancestral skills honed over centuries. Yet, for many participants and visitors, the significance of these games transcended mere athleticism. They embodied a reclamation of identity that was long suppressed.

During Joseph Stalin’s collectivization policies in the 1930s, the nomadic lifestyle was effectively dismantled. Entire communities were uprooted as the Soviet regime sought to impose agricultural models on a population that had thrived as pastoralists. This brutal transformation led to the erosion of traditional practices and a devastating loss of life. The scars of this cultural genocide run deep, and for decades, the vibrant tapestry of nomadic culture was all but silenced.

Stalin’s policy of forced agricultural collectivization deprived the Kazakh people of their livestock, which had been their means of livelihood, and destroyed their nomadic culture. The resulting famine is estimated to have caused the deaths of 2.3 million people.

However, the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked a turning point for Kazakhstan and other newly independent states. In the wake of independence, there has been a concerted effort to revive and celebrate nomadic traditions, transforming historical calamities into platforms for positive development. For Kazakhstan, this revival has become a central pillar of national identity, a way to reconnect with a rich history that predates colonial imposition.

The World Nomad Games are emblematic of this cultural renaissance. Since their inception in 2014, the Games have attracted participants from over 80 countries, fostering a sense of camaraderie among those who share a nomadic heritage. “This is not just a competition; it’s a celebration of our roots,” said Madiyar Aiyp, a Kazakh IT entrepreneur and a former official of the Ministry of industry. “We are showing the world who we are.”

The 7th Congress of leaders of the World and Traditional Religions. Credit: Katsuuhiro Asagirio

Kazakhstan’s ability to transform its historical challenges into opportunities is evident not only in the revival of its nomadic culture but also in its multi-vector diplomacy. The country has hosted significant events like the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, emphasizing its commitment to promoting dialogue and tolerance among its 130 ethnic groups. This diversity is rooted in a legacy of ethnic and political persecution under Stalin, yet a newly independent Kazakhstan guarantees equality for all citizens, regardless of their backgrounds.

Semipalatinsk former Nuclear test site. Photo Credit: Katsuhiro Asagiri

Kazakhstan’s leadership extends beyond cultural diplomacy; it has also made strides in global disarmament. The Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, once the backdrop for 456 nuclear experiments conducted between 1949 and 1989, was closed by an independent Kazakhstan, which eliminated its entire nuclear arsenal. This bold move transformed the nation from the fourth largest nuclear power to a staunch advocate for a nuclear-free world. The closure of Semipalatinsk is recognized by the UN as a pivotal moment in the fight against nuclear testing.

As the Games concluded, the atmosphere was one of celebration and pride, a testament to a culture that refused to be extinguished. The nomadic spirit, resilient and adaptable, is being woven back into the fabric of Kazakh identity. In Astana, as competitors took their final bows, it was clear that the past and present are intertwined, forging a future that honors both heritage and innovation.

May 1 is the national unity day in Kazahstan. more than 130 ethnicities enjoy peace in Kazakhstan. Credit: Embassy of Kazakhstan in Singapore

Kazakhstan stands as a model for turning historical calamities into platforms for positive change, advocating for peace and cooperation on the global stage. The World Nomad Games serve not only as a vibrant reminder of the importance of cultural roots but also as an affirmation that a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society can thrive through dialogue and understanding. In embracing its past, Kazakhstan is redefining its place in the world, proving that the nomadic way of life is not a relic of the past but a living, breathing part of its national identity and its aspirations for the future.

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