Throughout the countries whose people consume rice every day, prices have increased so much as to cause widespread insecurity. Export limits are thus being implemented in the rice-producing nations of India, China, Âu Lạc (Vietnam), and Egypt. Meanwhile, nations dependent on these products cope with high-priced staple foods. A main factor in this global shortage is the extreme weather resulting from climate change, which in turn causes reduced harvests.

At the UN’s recent climate change conference in Thailand, delegates from Mali, Niger and Guinea-Bissau speak about the clear links between global warming and food production, as witnessed in their countries.

Mr. Boubacar Sidiki Dembele, Technical Advisor, Mali Ministry of Environment: Desertification has a very big relationship with agricultural production, when rainfall decreases, when land is beginning to be arid, when we cannot have sufficient production of human agricultural staple foods and this kind of thing.

 According to a report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), rice prices have gone up as much as 70% during the past year.

Mr. Boubacar Sidiki Dembele, Technical Advisor, Mali Ministry of Environment: We are experiencing climate change’s adverse effects now. And these affect badly the main food such as millet, rice, and even other products.

Decreased rainfall and lack of access to water are the real effects of climate change. Many African governments are prioritizing a national policy of adaptation to ensure their nation’s survival.

Mr. Alexandre Cabral, UN representative from Guinea-Bissau: We are going to conduct studies on vulnerability, to arrive at concrete options of adaptation to climate change in the domains of water, agriculture, health and coastal erosion.

Mr. Saley Hassane, Executive Secretary, Niger National Council for Environment and Sustainable Development: We must develop, using clean technology that is non-polluting.

The delegates were then asked what they thought about vegetarianism as another part of the solution.

Mr. Alexandre Cabral, UN representative from Guinea-Bissau: It will help to conserve, and for human health, it is also good. What we are eating now causes obesity. It’s good if we become vegetarian.

Mr. Saley Hassane, Executive Secretary, Niger National Council for Environment and Sustainable Development: The question of vegetarianism would not be a problem at least in Africa, because a lot of people are already accustomed, in their traditions, to not eating meat. There are tribes who have never eaten meat since they were born. In traditional society, people are already habituated to eating vegetables. And the majority of gas emissions are from the cattle.

Mr. Boubacar Sidiki Dembele, Technical Advisor, Mali Ministry of Environment: In some cultures in Africa, we’re used to leaving Friday, not to eat meat on this day. If we extend to seven days a week, that would not be very difficult for us.

Mr. Saley Hassane, Executive Secretary, Niger National Council for Environment and Sustainable Development: In Africa, we try to eat soya.

Most African countries are low carbon emitters, yet their lands experience some of the greatest effects of climate change. As these officials continue to work actively to do what circumstances require, all three emphasized the need to work together - and quickly.

Mr. Saley Hassane, Executive Secretary, Niger National Council for Environment and Sustainable Development: The world is in danger. We need to save the planet now! Immediately. Everyone, the world has become a single village. We must save the village. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7328087.stm
http://in.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idINIndia-32846720080404?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0 
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