Government to Address Climate Change to Ensure Food Security

Introduction 

Governments across the globe are tasked with the responsibility of coming up with solutions to societal problems. Sometimes, the governments fail to do so, as a result of contradicting ideologies between the leaders and other members of society. When this happens, the leaders face fierce criticism from the public who are discontent with the authorities. In such instances, the responsibility of solving the challenges in society is shifted to individuals in society. Unfortunately, personal sacrifice by individuals in society cannot solve the climate crisis which threatens global food security. A connection between climate change and food security exists because food systems are directly dependent on weather patterns and changes in the climate. Therefore, governments across the globe should participate in implementing structural changes to address the climate crisis to ensure food security for the global population. 

Background 

In the recent past, it has been noted that the global temperatures have been on the rise than ever before. The changes have resulted in the climatic change experienced around the world. There is concern that if governments fail to make urgent changes to stop the acceleration of climate change, the situation may get out of hand. On the other hand, some leaders argue that global warming and climate change are ancient phenomena and contrary to what many people believe, the global temperatures have reduced over the past decade. The rise in global temperature occurs due to the accumulation of air pollutants such as carbon dioxide in the air which absorb heat bouncing from the surface of the earth. This warming leads to changes in climate patterns. Food systems and productions which depend on human agricultural activities are directly affected by the change in the climate. 

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, food security is defined as the structure encompassing all the steps involved in keeping humans fed; these are food production and all the steps involved all the way to consumption of the food (FAO, 2015). Numerous studies, some of which are included in this research, prove a relationship between the reduced agricultural production and the ongoing climate changes. Global warming, in particular, leads to changes in the rain patterns, thereby disrupting normal agricultural activities. The rising temperatures also lead to adverse weather conditions such as rain scarcity and the loss of biological productivity of land; these negatively impact food systems. As much as these statements are factual, evidence of drought and famine many centuries before the discovery of the global warming phenomenon and skeptical scholars doubting the scientific basis of global warming lead to questions as to whether government leaders should participate in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. 

Supporting Arguments 

Firstly, it is crucial that governments join the movement to address the climate crisis to ensure food security because the existence of the global warming concept has been proven to be factual. A comprehensive study conducted by Thomas R Karl, an expert on the environment and climate systems, proves the existence of global warming. In the study, a total of ten climatic indicators were used to examine whether the global temperatures were on the rise (Karl, 2009). The indicators were expected to increase in the case of global warming, and they did; this proves that the increasing temperatures and the climate change phenomena are true. Some of the indicators in the experiment were rising sea level, reducing sea cover, glacier, and increasing land and sea temperatures (Karl, 2009). By acknowledging the existence of the crisis, governments will begin to coordinate their resources and influence to address the problem.  

Secondly, governments across the globe should understand the complex interdependence among global warming, climate change, food production, and food security. Understanding this link will reveal the importance of the authority’s involvement in addressing the crisis. Food production is an essential aspect of the food system. Global food production mostly focuses on livestock, fishing, and crop agriculture. Many leadership organizations across the world have formulated government institutions to ensure the agricultural industries in their countries are running smoothly. In particular, one of the main goals of the United States Department of Agriculture (2021) is to ensure global food security. Therefore, it is vital that all governments address the global warming challenge because all these forms of agriculture largely depend on the climate. The increase in the occurrence of wildfires and other natural calamities as well as adverse weather conditions such as hurricanes, tsunamis, drought, and variations in rainfall negatively impact the agricultural sector . 

The most obvious part of food production affected by the changing climate is crop farming. The United States is one of the countries carrying out evaluations of the impact of climate change on its food systems (Qian et al., 2019). On the global level, changes in climate and adverse weather conditions have contributed to the reduction in crop yield. However, this is not always the case; the increasing global temperatures may have a positive or negative impact on different crops depending on their particular optimal temperatures for growth. Nonetheless, extremely high temperature for all crops, even for those that thrive in warm environments, ultimately leads to reduced productivity. The increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the air also negatively impact food production. The gas leads to reduced quality and quantity of the crop produced. Adverse weather conditions such as drought and storms as well as increased weeds, pests, and fungi caused by climate change also reduce crop production. The involvement of the United States Government, as well as other authorities across the world in addressing the climate crisis, will result in an increase in crop yield, thereby, ensuring global food security. 

Livestock and poultry farming are also an essential element in the food system. Many individuals in the US and other populations around the world rely on meat and poultry products for their daily protein intake. Climate change also affects the production of livestock and poultry products. One of the main causes of the reduction of the production of meat and poultry is the increasing cases of heat waves (Rojas-Downing et al., 2017). These climate changes brought about by the rising global temperature increase the probability of livestock/poultry diseases, reduce the productivity of the livestock/poultry, and reduce their fertility. Wildfires, livestock food scarcity, and other adverse weather conditions make it hard for farmers to continue with livestock and poultry farming. The reduction of quality and quality is already being witnessed in the fishing industry in the US and across the globe. Overfishing, increasing water levels, and temperature are also hurting the billion-dollar sector. The involvement of governments in reducing the global carbon footprint will positively impact livestock and poultry farming. 

Counter-arguments 

Opposing arguments put across by scholars concerning the existence of global warming and the climate change concept continues to emerge. These scholars argue that carbon dioxide is not a pollutant, but an essential gas in the eco-system (Evans, 2006). The opposers argue that carbon dioxide adds to humans' agricultural activities by aiding the photosynthesis processes. Other arguments opposing the existence of the climate change concept insist that there are other years recorded in history hotter than the past 50 years, proof that global warming is not a new phenomenon; the recorded time in history hotter than the past 20years is the Mediaeval Warm period from the 9th to the 14th century (Evans, 2006). Drought and famine have also been recorded in history long before the discovery of global warming and climate change. The above-stated arguments which seek to disapprove the relationship between climate change and food production contribute to the ideology contradiction among different leaders. For instance, leaders and members of the public in the United States are polarized over the issues surrounding the topic (Pew Research Center, 2021). While others believe climate change exists, others distrust the claims of the climate scientists and are against the allocation of the government’s resources in addressing the problem. 

Recommendations 

Climate change, one of the most profound challenges to face humans, calls for governments to act separately and collaboratively to respond to the problems such as food insecurity arising from the crisis. A study by the National Research Council (2010) highlights some steps that the United States Government or any other responsible institution can take to respond to the climate crisis. The most impactful of the recommendations is the allocation of government resources to government and non-government institutions to collect information, conduct research, and implement strategies that have proved to be successful in reducing carbon emission by industries and urban populations. The intervention will help reduce the global temperature and maintain it at a sustainable level. Another intervention is the training of small and large-scale farmers of techniques to improve crop yield and production amid unpredictable climate and weather patterns (The United States Department of Agriculture, 2021). 

Conclusion 

Inferring from the supporting and opposing arguments, it is safe to conclude that governments across the globe should participate in implementing structural changes to address the climate crisis to ensure food security for the global population. Climate change caused by global warming disrupts normal weather patterns and also leads to adverse weather conditions, this consequently affects agricultural activities. The affected agricultural activities are crop production, poultry farming, livestock keeping, and fishing. Climate change reduces the quality and quantity of food produces, therefore, affecting food systems. To be able to make informed decisions, leaders need to acknowledge the existence of global warming and affects its causes and its impact on agriculture and food security. Authorities can participate in addressing the problem by allocating resources to government and non-government institutions to collect information, conduct research, and implement strategies that have proved to be successful in reducing carbon emission by industries and urban populations. Another way of addressing the problem is by providing material for small and large-scale farmers to improve their productivity and also training them on how to ensure regular crop yield while farming under unpredictable weather conditions . 

Annotated Bibliography 

Evans, R. (2006). 

Nine Lies About Global Warming

This source provides information about the role of carbon dioxide in the photosynthesis processes and also explains why the gas is not a pollutant. It also provides evidence of the existence of global warming way before the 20th and the 21st centuries. The author was known for his political advocacy and was the director of Ray Evans & Associates, an Australian consultancy firm that specialized in political and economic advice. The source opposes the thesis of the research. 

FAO. (2015).  Climate Change and Food Systems: Global Assessments and Implications for Food Security and Trade  (1st Ed.). 

The book by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) present the findings of scientists and economists who have studied the impact of climate change on food systems and agricultural activities at global and regional levels. The fact that FAO is the author of the book adds to the credibility of the source because the branch of the United Nations that specializes on global food security and agriculture is an expert in the topic of climate change and food systems. 

Karl, T. (2009). 

Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States

Thomas R Karl, an expert on the environment and climate systems, proves the existence of global warming. The research by the scientist uses ten climatic indicators to examine whether the global temperatures were on the rise. Some of the indicators were rising sea level, reducing sea cover, glacier, and increasing land and sea temperatures. The experiment acts as one of the concrete sources supporting the thesis of the research paper. 

National Research Council. (2010). 

Informing an effective response to climate change

The National Research Council consists of a panel of well-informed and experienced on matters concerning the climate and divisions on earth and life studies. The book provides recommendations that the US government and other authorities around the world can use to effectively respond to climate change, one of the world’s most profound challenge. 

Pew Research Center. (2021). 

The Politics of Climate Change in the United States

The Pew Research Center specialized in conducting researches that examine the relationships between habits and attitudes of the populace and what they perceive or know about a particular subject. In this research, information from the source has been used to explain how polarized the United States is about the climate change concept. While others believe climate change exists, others distrust the claims of the climate scientists and are against the allocation of the government’s resources in addressing the problem. 

Qian, B., Zhang, X., Smith, W., & Grant, B. (2019). Climate Change Impacts on Canadian Yields of Spring Wheat, Canola and Maize for Global Warming Levels Of 1.5 °C, 2.0 °C, 2.5 °C and 3.0 °C. 

Environmental Research Letters

Qian et al. provide a science-based assessment on the impact of global warming and climate change on the crop yield in North America, Canada, and other parts of the world. A keen analysis of the information provided in the source proves that there exists a relationship between climate change and crop yield. The resource acts as supporting evidence on the relationship between food security and the climate; thereby, revealing the importance of the governments’ participation in addressing the climate crisis to ensure food security. 

Rojas-Downing, M., Nejadhashemi, A., Harrigan, T., & Woznicki, S. (2017). Climate Change and Livestock: Impacts, Adaptation, and Mitigation. 

Climate Risk Management

This journal by Rojas-Downing et al. also provides a science-based assessment of the impact of global warming and climate change on the production of livestock, one of the leading sources of protein for the global population. The resource supports the argument of the thesis. The source provides information about how wildfires, livestock food scarcity, and other adverse weather conditions make it hard for farmers to continue with livestock and poultry far . 

The United States Department of Agriculture. (2021).  Food Security . Usda.gov. https://www.usda.gov/topics/food-and-nutrition/food-security 

The source, which is the official Department of Agriculture in the United States, is the leading institution in the nation in charge of food security, agricultural activities, nutrition, and related issues; this adds to the credibility of the source. It provides information on why the US government should be involved in climate change issues; since the Agriculture Department is in charge of food security, it should allocate its resources in understanding and responding to the food scarcity challenges posed by the climate changes.