CSO analysis and recommendations on ASEAN policies and programs on Food Security and Climate Change

CSO analysis and recommendations on ASEAN policies and programs on Food Security and Climate Change

Outline of Presentation

1. ASEAN Brief Background2. Agriculture in ASEAN3. ASEAN and Food Security Policies and Action4. ASEAN and Climate Change5. CSO Analysis /Reflection, Advocacy and Action Points

CSO analysis and recommendations on ASEAN policies and programs on Food Security and Climate Change

ASEAN Background Information

History: Established in August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand; Brunei and CLMV joined later

Objective: regional cooperation to achieve economic growth, social progress, cultural development and regional peace and stability; and to promote greater collaboration on maters of common interest

Structures and ProcessesASEAN Summit ASEAN Coordinating CouncilASEAN Community Councils – based on three ASEAN pillars :

ASEAN Political Security Community CouncilASEAN Economic Community CouncilASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

Agriculture in ASEAN

Share of Agriculture to GDP of ASEAN Countries is minimal.

Agriculture continues to be a major source of employment in many ASEAN countries

CSO analysis and recommendations on ASEAN policies and programs on Food Security and Climate Change

Challenges faced by small men and women farmers and agricultural producers

• Limited public and private investment in agriculture

• Impacts of trade and investment liberalization

AFTA CEPT, ASEAN China FTA, ASEAN India FTA, Asean Korea FTA, ASEAN Australia and New Zealand FTA• Climate change

ASEAN and Food Security

CSO analysis and recommendations on ASEAN policies and programs on Food Security and Climate Change

ASEAN’s long term policy objectives on agriculture and food security

Mandate and Policy Guidance from the Ministerial Understanding on ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry, 1993

1. Strengthening food security in the region2. Promotion and facilitation of intra-ASEAN trade3. Generation and transfer of technology to increase

productivity4. Agricultural rural community and human resource

development5. Private sector involvement and investment6. Management and conservation of natural resources for

sustainable development7. Strengthening ASEAN cooperation and joint approaches

in addressing international and regional issues

The ASEAN INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK ON FOOD SECURITY (AIFS)

Strategic Thrust Action Programme Strengthen food security arrangements Strengthen national food security programs

Develop food security reserves and mechanisms

Promote conducive market and trade Promote initiatives supporting sustainable food trade (ATIGA)

Strengthen food security mechanism to forecast, plan and monitor supply and utilization of commodities

Strengthen the ASEAN Food Security Information System

Promote sustainable food production Improve agriculture infra system development to secure production, minimize post harvest losses and reduce transaction costs Efficient utilization of resource potential for agricultural development Promote agricultural innovation and research Promote close collaboration for technology transfer

Encourage greater investments in food and agro-based industry

Promote food and agro-based development

Identify emerging issues related to food security Address the development of biofuels with consideration to food security Address impacts of climate change on food security

CSO analysis and recommendations on ASEAN policies and programs on Food Security and Climate Change

How are these translated into concrete plans of action for agriculture?

•Series of Strategic Plan of Action on ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry

(1994 – 2004, 2005-2010)

•Shift of focus from cooperation in food production and supply to facilitating intra and extra ASEAN trade in agriculture, fishery and forestry products

Buzzwords – international competitiveness, food security, updated information on commodity supply demand and trade

CSO analysis and recommendations on ASEAN policies and programs on Food Security and Climate Change

• ASEAN policy declaration reflect general calls of food security, sustainable agricultural development, climate change mitigation and adaptation, among others

But ASEAN programs and activities do not ...

• The only binding aspect of ASEAN policies are those that relate to the FTAs

• SPAs formed through top down process (and by technocrats) and, as such, are not reflective of the agenda of small men and women farmers and agricultural producers

Some reflections / analysis

CSO Advocacy and Action PointsAdvocacy Work to be done Bodies, venues and process to

engage in ASEAN An effective and updated ASEAN Rice Reserve Mechanism Development of an ASEAN Rice Policy that helps interested Members attain food self-sufficiency

Evaluate EAERR Development of rules and guidelines for a regional rice reserve mechanism Consultations to develop and validate CSO proposal on the ASEAN Rice Policy Advocacy and Lobbying

AMAF (SOM and Ministerial level), SAP-FS, AIFS

ASEAN and Climate Change

CSO analysis and recommendations on ASEAN policies and programs on Food Security and Climate Change

• ASEAN Members account for a small portion of global GHG Emission

• Southeast Asia most vulnerable to climate change because of the region’s location and geo-physical characteristics

• Region highly unprepared to cope with climate change

• Food security threatened by climate change

ASEAN and Climate Change

CSO analysis and recommendations on ASEAN policies and programs on Food Security and Climate Change

• Declaration on Climate Change in 2007

• Calls for closer cooperation on mitigation and adaptation

• Focus of individual national communication is mitigation more than adaptation

• Terms of Reference of the Climate Change Initiative, created an ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change

• Vietnam pushing for ASEAN association to the Copenhagen Accord; opposed by other countries

ASEAN’s work on Climate Change

ASEAN Position vs. Copenhagen Accord

ASEAN Position Copenhagen Accord

A legally binding agreement Voluntary, political agreement only

Limit the average global temperature rise to below 2C above the pre-industrial level

Unclear means to achieve target of limiting temperature rise to 2CGhg emission reduction based on individual targets (bottom-up), not on aggregate target

Richer nations to provide developing countries with scaled-up, new, additional, adequate and predictable financing to combat the effects of climate change

No financial commitments from rich countries, only financial pledgesFinancial mechanism will not be accountable to the COP of the UNFCCC

Developed countries to take the lead based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities

Based on “burden sharing” among countries, according to capacity

CSO Engagement with ASEAN

CSO Engagement in ASEANOrganization Area of Advocacy Work Policy, body, process

engaged in ASEAN

AFA Food security, Climate change, agricultural trade, sustainable agriculture

Consultations cum agenda building with farmers, research, advocacy, trainings

ASEAN Secretariat, AIFS

Asiadhrra Food security, sustainable agriculture, ASEAN process

Research, trainings and capability building, advocacy

ASEAN Secretariat, AIFS

APFNS Food sovereignty Advocacy, research ASEAN Secretariat

EARWG Food Security, sustainable agriculture, agriculture trade, climate change

Research, advocacy, training and capability building

ASEAN secretariat, national government

Focus on the Global South

Food security, climate change, ASEAN Process

Research, advocacy ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Summit

Oxfam Food security, climate change, sustainable agriculture

Research, advocacy, funding

Searice Sustainable agriculture Advocacy, research, training and capability building

Seafish Agricultural trade, sustainable resource management, Climate change

CSO analysis and recommendations on ASEAN policies and programs on Food Security and Climate Change

• Food sovereignty: the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems

• Support for community-based conservation and development of seeds

• Support for sustainable community-based food production, marketing and distribution, also as a strategy for climate change adaptation and mitigation

• Promotion of appropriate farming systems

Civil Society Advocacies

CSO analysis and recommendations on ASEAN policies and programs on Food Security and Climate Change

• Sustained pressure for a legally-binding agreement on climate change mitigation, adaptation and delivery of commitments by developed countries under the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities

• Pursue multilateral engagement in the UNFCCC process, not under the Copenhagen Accord which does not conform with the ASEAN positions

• Participation of farmers, food producers/providers and consumers in decision-making in food and agriculture at different levels

Civil Society Advocacies

CSO Advocacy and Action PointsAdvocacy Work to be done Bodies, venues and process to

engage in ASEAN Regional program on climate change Technology transfer and sharing -production, pest management, watershed and other resource management -disaster risk reduction and management -policies and initiatives on loss and damage -weather forecasting and information Funds for regional adaptation initiatives (can be integrated with common agri fund advocacy) Farmers input into the multi-sectoral framework on climate change for agriculture, fisheries and forestry (under AMAF) Common position at least on adaptation and financing in COP Support to PO/CSO participation in NAPA and NAMA creation

Modelling Capability building, advocacy and lobbying

AMAF. ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment, TWG on Climate Change, Multi-sectoral framework on climate change

CSO Advocacy and Action PointsAdvocacy Work to be done Bodies, venues and process to

engage in ASEAN Farmers’ participation in ASEAN Policy Formulation/ Creation of an ASEAN Farmers and Fisheries Advisory Council

Creation of Farmers’ and Fisherfolks’ Parallel Forum Formal and informal interaction with AMAF Lobby AMAF minister to endorse parallel forum and stakeholder participation in the AMAF process

AMAF (SOM and Ministerial level) Next Meeting in Cambodia