Are we too late? Interview with climate change expert Belynda Petrie

News and Views from the 3^rd International Forum and Water and Food

It is no secret that food security depends on water security and that climate change is impacting on both. The question is whether these issues will be addressed at the UNFCCC COP17?Is there still time to have them feature on the COP17 agenda? Belynda Petrie, CEO of One World,provides insight on how these issues can still be positioned on the global political agenda - as well as her hopes for outcomes in Durban, South Africa.

In terms of the negotiations we are really late, as these started a year ago, notes Petrie.These issues can however be taken forward in upcoming negotiations beyond COP17. “Despite it being too late to position water and food security issues in the COP17 negotiations, let’s not forget that it provides a very good platform for engaging negotiators, policy makers and ministersin view of upcoming negotiations. Approximately 35 000 of them will be attending the event in Durban,”states Petrie.

This is an ideal opportunity for creating awareness and engaging stakeholders around water and food issues.“CPWF should really integrate their agenda with existing issues in the negotiations rather than trying to create a separate agenda,” she says.

If Africa can negotiate that the Green Climate Fund includes an allocation of 50% towards adaptation food and water solutions can be funded going forward, as these issues are linked to adaptation.

This will require a change in approachwithnegotiators by CPWF based on dialogue that usesscientific-based evidence as a strong selling point.“It has to kept in mind that the Adaptation Fund is limited and there are over a hundred countries that could apply. It´s a competitive process”, notes Petrie.

“At a global level we need evidence about why be need to adapt, the economic costs of adaptation and where the focus on adaptation should be. At a regional/river basin level we need evidence for planning, andfor strategy and policy making. On a project levelwe need evidence for building the project proposals for funding of the Adaptation Fund.

Petrie expects that the Adaptation Fund will be reviewed and that there will probably be a high level agreement on the Green Climate Fund at COP 17.

She warns that climate finance is however at risk. “If you an ambitious agreement on limiting greenhouse gases emissions (GHG) is not reached at COP 17, less funds can be raised,” she states.

Not to be forgotten – and perhaps a more important platform is Rio+20. “Rio+20 is a really important platformbecause is all about sustainability.”