The UK supports efforts to protect food and water supplies

LONDON, December 9 (EFE).- The United Kingdom will support efforts to protect the world’s water and food supplies during the COP28 climate summit, by supporting farmers to adopt sustainable practices, the British government said on Saturday.

To this end, the UK will expand its partnership with the World Bank to promote climate-resilient agricultural practices around the world, notes a statement from the Foreign and International Cooperation Department (FCDO, in English).

The announcement will be made by the Head of the UK Region for International Cooperation, Andrew Mitchell, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).

The note notes that many farmers are experiencing increasingly frequent and severe climate impacts, such as droughts and floods.

The UK has committed £10 million (€11.6 million) to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to help smallholder farmers improve their incomes so they can reduce the impact on the natural world, especially forests.

Climate change and deforestation mean that countries like Zambia suffer from droughts that negatively impact their economies and food production.

According to the British government, at COP 28, the focus will also be on water, alongside food and agriculture.

Agriculture represents 70% of global freshwater use, making the world face a water crisis.

The note adds that it is expected that by 2030 there will be a 40% shortfall in freshwater supplies, with dire consequences for people, planet and nature.

Mitchell will unveil new funding of up to £39 million (€45.2 million) for the Just Transitions for Water Security programme, to help countries manage water resources responsibly.

This program will provide technical assistance to low-income, climate-vulnerable countries so they can better manage their water resources.

“Water is at the heart of the climate crisis. Water security must be at the top of the global agenda. My message is clear: we must protect water appropriately if we are to ensure equitable access for all,” Mitchell said in the statement. Evie

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