- Joachim von Braun, Director, Center for Development Research, University of Bonn
- Ertharin Cousin, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow, Robert Bosch Academy
About
To become climate neutral by 2045, the German government is ordered by a recent Federal Constitutional Court decision to take more ambitious and immediate action. Regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are expected to play an even more prominent role for the next federal government. These actions will impact jobs as well as prices for housing, food, and energy. Some critics suggest the focus on the environmental crisis ignores detrimental impacts, and undermines opportunities for economic prosperity for young, low income, and the poor people – not only in Germany but also abroad.
As Germany, Europe, and the U.S. plan and implement solutions for addressing the climate crisis, the developing world, particularly Africa, requires investments to circumvent the externalities of climate change including hunger and poverty. Without significant food system changes, 78 million people could fall into food insecurity – over half of those in Africa. Agricultural solutions include drought-tolerant and micronutrient-rich seeds developed through advanced plant breeding. Many Germans disagree, arguing that the answer is more organic agriculture and food-loss reduction. This Lunch Talk aims to address the following questions:
- How can we make a just transition into a food-secure and climate-neutral world possible?
- Which “whole of food system” answers are required beyond agricultural solutions?
- What changes to the global trade system are needed to achieve social, trade and climate justice?
- Will the billions of dollars pledged by G7 to help poor countries cope with global warming support the ecological changes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ignoring the externalities of health, food security and economic opportunities?
A light lunch and beverages will be served. All distancing and hygiene requirements will be met at the venue.
Registration for this event is closed.