We Cannot Deliver on Promise of Agenda 2030 without Progress towards Ending Hunger, Undernutrition, Secretary-General Tells Committee on Food Security

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, delivered by David Nabarro, his Special Representative for Food Security and Nutrition, for the forty-second session of the Committee on World Food Security, in Rome today:

I am delighted to send greetings to the forty-second session of the Committee on World Food Security.

Just three weeks ago, world leaders adopted their 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to end poverty, promote prosperity and well-being for all, protect the environment and address climate change.

Achieving food security, improving nutrition and building inclusive, resilient and sustainable food systems are central to success of the 2030 Agenda.

We will not be able to deliver on the promise of the 2030 Agenda without rapid progress towards ending hunger and undernutrition.  Nor can we achieve a lasting end to hunger and malnutrition in isolation — to realize zero hunger, we must deliver on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

The 2030 Agenda will require new ways of working.  And the United Nations system is mobilizing as one to support stakeholders in this task.

As the most inclusive international and intergovernmental platform for peoples’ food security and nutrition, the Committee on World Food Security is critical to helping Governments meet their commitments on food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture within the context of the 2030 Agenda.

At the beginning of December, world leaders will gather in Paris to take further action against climate change.  The role of sustainable, resilient food systems, including sustainable agriculture and reducing food waste and loss, will be key to addressing this challenge.

I welcome the imminent endorsement of the Framework for Action for Food Security and Nutrition in Protracted Crises.  The numerous protracted crises faced in our world today — from Syria to South Sudan, Somalia to Yemen — require our special attention if we are to eliminate hunger.

That Framework for Action, along with other important tools such as the Voluntary Guidelines on the Governance of Tenure and the Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investment, serve as important elements of the means of implementation for the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals].

You are also focusing this year on the special role of young people.  As we strive to become the Zero Hunger Generation, we must ensure young people are empowered to be active participants in our shared efforts.

The Goals are set.  Achieving zero hunger is our shared commitment.  Now is the time to work as partners and build a truly global movement to ensure the right for food for all and to build sustainable agriculture and food systems.

The 2030 Agenda gives us the road map.  Let us start together, and reach our destination, together.