On 16. October, the Food and Agriculture Organization celebrated World Food Day. At the ceremony, Pope Francis encouraged world governments to work towards ending both the rising world hunger and to effectively respond to climate change. Hunger, global warming, and migration should be treated as interconnected problems since deterioration of the environment have a great impact on poverty and food insecurity. The most vulnerable people are disproportionally affected by climate change and food insecurity, and many of them have to abandon their homes due to lack of work and food. According to Pope Francis, "managing human mobility requires a coordinated, systematic intergovernmental action in line with existing international norms, and full of love and intelligence".

The Food and Agriculture Organization pointed out that a rising number of people is forced to migrate because they can no longer sustain the life in their homes and lands. Furthermore, between 2008 and 2015, an average of 26.4 million people was displaced annually due to climate change or weather-related disasters – an increase of 40% in international migration since 2000.

Moreover, the U.N. report “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2017” revealed that global hunger is on the rise, affecting 11% of the global population. Climate change and conflicts are considered one of the key drivers behind the resurgence of hunger and malnutrition.

Pope Francis expressed his regret about withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, announced by the United States, which undermines global climate change action. He called for a new model of international cooperation that incorporates compassion, fraternity, and solidarity into the response to the needs of the poorest.

The gLAWcal Team

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