S1.3 When Hunger Strikes? Food Security and Sustainability (Part 1)

06/27/20 • 86 min

A look at how climate change and the environment impacts food security. In this episode, we assessed the frameworks existing in Jamaica to address these impacts considering our lived experience through COVID-19. The different perspectives and on the different dimensions of food security of the FAO food security definition were explored.

Previous Episode

S1.2 Is the Earth Better Off Without Us?” - COVID-19, Climate Change & The Environment

Launched on World Environment Day (June 5, 2020), under the theme 'TIME FOR NATURE', this episode explored the very close link between climate change, environmental health, and the spread of diseases.

The COVID-19 Stay-At-Home orders drastically reduced transportation, both air travel and on the ground, and also reduced economic activities such as manufacturing, fishing. A study published in May 2020 found that the daily global carbon emissions during the lockdown measures in early April fell by 17% and could lead to an annual carbon emissions decline of up to 7%, which would be the biggest drop since World War II according to the researcher.

in addition to anecdotal evidence of more fish in some waterways as people stayed at home due to lockdown and travel restrictions, some animals have been spotted in areas that were once their natural habitat. Sea turtles were spotted laying eggs on beaches they once avoided (such as the coast of the Bay of Bengal), due to the lowered levels of human interference and light pollution.
How do we use these observations to plan for life after Covid-19 considering the importance of safeguarding environmental health while addressing climate change impacts?

Next Episode

S1.4 When Hunger Strikes Part 2: Food Security and Sustainability

We know that Covid-19 has restricted movement globally and even with some countries opening borders, travel, and movement are not what they used to be. Agriculture, globally, has taken a massive hit due to these actions that served to protect public health.

We mentioned the last episode that there is an excess of produce at source due to the closure of massive hotels, restaurants, and other places of entertainment, in addition to the reduced opening hours of marketplaces and the lockdown of major populated areas. This, again, is highlighting a major deficiency in global food security frameworks.

In this episode, we want to explore some of the gaps in the local food security framework and how we can fill them to ensure we do not have a repeat of this after Covid-19.