Climate Change and Food Security in the Indo-Pacific: Challenges and Opportunities
Speaker: Mr. Ameya Kelkar (Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi, India)
Date: 3 October 2024
Speaker Session Summary
The Indo-Pacific region is home to approximately 60% of the world’s population and contributes 60% of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP), making it one of the most significant regions to monitor. Despite its importance, the region faces challenges related to food scarcity and the adverse effects of climate change. Mr. Kelkar emphasized the crucial role food plays in daily life, influencing an individual’s mood, mental clarity, and physical stamina. In the Indo-Pacific region, one in 11 people is affected by food insecurity, an issue driven by various factors, including a lack of technology, insufficient capital investment, and limited resources for farmers. Mr. Kelkar noted that while food scarcity has long been a problem in the Indo-Pacific, climate change has gravely worsened the situation. He identified a few of the climate-related effects, such as more frequent monsoons, droughts, and increased salinity in some reservoirs of water, rendering them unsuitable for agricultural irrigation. The growing frequency and intensity of storms have also caused substantial damage to agricultural infrastructure. Mr. Kelkar highlighted that these effects extend beyond land-based agriculture to fisheries as well.
Regional organizations, like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), have expressed a desire to promote mutual development in response to climate change. However, most nations in the region continue to address climate-related issues independently. Mr. Kelkar attributed this to a lack of trust between countries and emphasized that this trust must be built, along with stronger communication, as climate change transcends national borders.
To view more of Mr. Kelkar’s analysis, read his new report, entitled “Climate Change and Food Security in the Indo-Pacific: Challenges and Opportunities.”
Speaker Session Recording
Briefing Materials
Biography: Ameya Kelkar is a research assistant with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi, India. His research areas include studying the effects of Climate Change, and its impact on India and its security and development. His work hopes to elucidate greater discussion regarding the common problems mankind faces, and the solutions mankind needs to work towards.
He previously served as a research assistant with the Observer Research Foundation. He holds master’s degrees in global peace, security, and strategic studies from the SPPU, Pune (Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune) and a postgraduate degree in history from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London (SOAS University of London).
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