SIGNALS ARE COMING IN THAT PERMANENT CHANGE IN THE CLIMATE SYSTEM IS UNDERWAY. THIS IS PRESENTING THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE OF THE CENTURY. SOME ARE CALLING ON CORPORATIONS TO TAKE THE LEAD, OTHERS ARE LOOKING TO FIND WAYS TO ADAPT AND ACCEPT. MEDIA IS COMING UNDER FIRE FOR NOT REPORTING ACCURATELY.
Signals: The climate system has changed permanently, energy supply is going to be tougher than many have imagined; both will impact food security. As argued by the Water and Food Award, that will undermine markets and all businesses will be affected. Corporations can realign their missions to include water and food security. Indeed, as some have commented, it may only be corporations that have the wherewithal to lead the change although as the finalists in this year’s Water and Food Award demonstrate, it is grass roots initiatives just now that are leading the way.
Comment. This food and water special highlights the Water and Food Award in London the 18th June. See the links below to get further insight into the important issues they are addressing, and the opportunities for far –sighted corporations to get involved. Further down we provide links to comments on the various strategies we are seeing emerging as well as supporting links to the challenges to food security.
Supporting links.
The recent IPCC report
http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg2/
The IPCC analysis of food security impact
All aspects of food security are potentially affected by climate change, including food access, utilization, and
price stability (high confidence).
http://ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/images/uploads/WGIIAR5-Chap7_FGDall.pdf
Comments on the significance of the report
http://billmoyers.com/2014/03/31/five-key-takeaways-from-the-frightening-ipcc-climate-change-report/
The guardian’s take on the IPCC report and consequences for food security
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/mar/31/climate-change-threat-food-security-humankind
A slight change in climate could make our food “hollow of nutrients”
http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/05/co2-producing-hollow-food/
A Fast Company article on how corporations can change the world
http://www.fastcompany.com/3026264/leadership-now/want-to-change-the-world-join-a-corporation
Oxfam calls for large corporations to make the stand
http://grist.org/food/the-bottom-line-is-why-big-food-should-take-a-stand-on-climate?
Blog article explains how corporations can rise up the food and water ladder
http://stephenhinton.org/2014/05/23/csr-means-contributing-to-a-world-where-everyone-is-fed/
A world with everyone fed turning CSR strategy to food security: The Humanitarian Water and Food Award is challenging corporations to put food security at the heart of their CSR strategy. They will present five finalists and choose a winner at their prestigious Event in central London on the 18th June. http://www.wafaward.org/#!london-2014/ct1m
Going from business as usual to business as putting food on the table is the strategy for the future, argues the Water and Food Award.
This recording of a recent short webinar explains the main outlines. http://csrwebinars.avbp.net/?p=204
Media
Media is called out on TV for biased climate reporting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjuGCJJUGsg with John Oliver
Government
Blogger Dave Pollard explains how changing climate could mean the end of big government
http://howtosavetheworld.ca/2014/05/28/the-end-of-central-governments/
Antarctic changes studied (new article in Science)
Thwaites Glacier studies show change to be permanent
http://phys.org/news/2014-05-west-antarctic-ice-sheet-collapse.html
READ MORE ABOUT THE AWARD HERE
http://www.wafaward.org/#!london-2014/c23sr