¨Today, humanity faces a triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate crisis and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that ‘having healthy food, we need a healthy environment,’ said the Director-General.

The lives of over a billion people are severely constrained by water scarcity or shortages; almost a billion hectares of rain-fed cropland and pastureland are severely affected by recurring drought; and over 60 percent of irrigated cropland are under high to very high water stress.

These water-related challenges could be addressed, argued Qu, with the help of digital innovation, more effective governance mechanisms, and investments.

The FAO Director-General also called on the world’s richest nations to increase their investment in a sustainable environment to feed the world’s growing population.

Likewise, Qu argued for promoting favorable approaches to biodiversity including investments in initiatives and programs, while emphasizing that reversing deforestation will help mitigate climate change and prevent disease outbreaks from passing from animals to humans.

The FAO Director-General added that the recently launched UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, led by FAO and the UN Environment Program, provided an excellent opportunity to mobilize collective efforts and implement immediate measures to reverse the alarming biodiversity loss through mitigation programs in the food and agriculture sectors.

pgh/Pll/msm / crc