President Michael D Higgins has warned that the world may be on the “verge of an abyss” as access to vital natural resources dwindle and hunger is used as a weapon of war.
“We could be at the verge of an abyss... and see our future in ever increasing expenditure on armaments rather than on the provision of food,” he said in an address to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The comments echo those of United Nations Secretary General António Guterres over the weekend, who warned the world was “on the verge of the abyss in the Middle East” and appealed for the release of hostages in Gaza and access for humanitarian aid.
President Higgins said it was vital “to look forward to a future of a peace” and “reject the suggestion that war is the natural condition of humanity”.
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The FAO event is dedicated to highlighting the importance of fresh water for human life, and the ways it is threatened by unsustainable agriculture, urbanisation, and climate change.
“We are at a perilous tipping point in relation to this precious resource,” President Higgins told the plenary chamber of the UN body.
“Competition for this priceless but depleting resource is increasing, and a water scarcity has now become an ever-increasing cause of conflict. Indeed hunger is becoming a weapon of war.”
President Higgins warned that the current economic system is not sustainable and that young people would have to find a different way.
Young people could not be asked “to repeat our disastrous destructive mistakes”, he said in his speech.
“We will have to say to them: You will have to do everything differently, including the interconnection between economics society and agriculture.”
President Higgins warned that fresh water resources had declined by 20 per cent on a per capital basis in recent decades, and that water availability and quality was in decline due to “decades of abuse, poor use and management, over-extraction of groundwater, pollution and climate change”.
“Around 600 million people depend on aquatic food systems for a living. They, as we meet, are suffering the effects of pollution, ecosystem degradation, unsustainable practices and climate change, all based on economic assumptions that must be changed and questioned by all young people,” he said.
“Today is a day to renew our commitment to the conservation of our food resources... a world free from hunger, a just sustainable and harmonious existence on our vulnerable planet that is in peril.”
The speech to mark World Food Day at FAO marks the first appearance in an overseas visit to Rome in which President Higgins will meet Pope Francis and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
He is also set to participate in a series of cultural events including laying a wreath to honour the late Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, meeting the Irish community, and attending an exhibition at the Pontifical Irish College entitled Ireland And The Birth Of Europe.
In a later speech, Mr Higgins blamed “excessive financial speculation” and stockpiling by countries including China for driving up food prices.
“Food storage must be addressed. The over-concentration of wheat reserves, for example, among just a handful of nations, must be tackled. China now holds over half of all wheat reserves globally,” he said.
“Excessive stockpiling is driving up international food prices, having devastating consequences for poorer food-insecure nations.”
The speech highlighted inequities and inconsistencies in the food system, noting that billions had inadequate food while vast amounts of food is wasted and obesity increases in some countries.
The President also accused top European banks of having assisted fossil fuel companies in raising €1 trillion borrowing since the world vowed to curb climate change in the landmark Paris agreement.
