Climate Change and Food Security in Asia Pacific

Using an interdisciplinary approach, this book evaluates the complex nexus between climate change and regional food security in Asia Pacific. Feeding the planet puts a lot of stress on the environment. The fundamental challenges we are facing today include how to grow more from less in a sustainable manner; how to optimize the entire food value chain from field to fork to reduce the carbon footprint, protect the environment and support biological diversity, cause less water pollution and soil erosion, raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy. With a robust multi-site study in Southeast Asia, Pacific Island Forum and South Asia, this book examines the regional initiatives on, the current state of, and the future prospects for mitigations and resilience regarding climate change and food security vis-à-vis other regions of the world.

“In this ground-breaking work, Islam and Kieu examine the power of regional initiatives in meeting the threats of climate change and food insecurity. Indeed, these challenges are fundamentally regional: they are nearly identical for adjacent nations, but widely differing at the global scale. Regional alliances enhance the political and financial leverage of their members, while holding a tighter focus than is possible for global alliance. Islam and Kieu apply the analytical methodology of multi-sited ethnography, through case studies of specific Asia-Pacific initiatives. This work will be valued by policy makers and practitioners tackling the two greatest challenges of our age.” (Professor John H. Lienhard, V, Director, Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS), Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

“The authors provide a very detailed and insightful analysis of the complex relationships between climate change and food (in)security in the large Asia-Pacific region, going beyond common efforts to demonstrate how the former is impacting the latter by also focusing on the impact of food systems on climate change. They do this via in-depth analyses of three large Asian-Pacific Initiatives aimed at promoting food security across differing parts of the region, as well as paying special attention to China and India, urban food security and the role of green movements in achieving equitable as well as sustainable food security. With a keen eye toward policy implications, they help point the way to a more sustainable food system in this vital region.” (Riley E. Dunlap, Past-President, Research Committee on Environment and Society, International Sociological Association)

“Climate Change and Food Security in Asia-Pacific: Response and Resilience is a very timely volume with a focus on one of the key regions in the new global economy. Providing insights on regional initiatives for mitigations and resilience to climate change and food security in Asia Pacific, this book is key not only for those who are interested in the responses to climate change to address food security concerns, but also for international relations and politics experts who are interested in this strategically very important geography. Authors warn us about the dangers of “resource wars” among the have and have not nations, threats of greenwashing by some of the key actors who are not genuine in their efforts to address the threats and speak of the necessity of robust public policies and participation of the poor to make meaningful changes towards food security.” (Mustafa Koc, Professor, Department of Sociology and the Centre for Studies in Food Security, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada)

“A very timely book. Climate change, food security and resilience are central to the challenge of addressing food insecurity in some of the fragile economies of Asia Pacific. The two dominant countries of the region – China and India – present an interesting contrast.” (Chandra A. Madramootoo P.Eng., James McGill Professor, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Canada)

“Climate Change and Food Security in Asia Pacific: Response and Resilience is a timely contribution for a better understanding of how regional organizations can shape climate change mitigation policies in view of ensuring food security. Md Saidul Islam and Edson Kieu provide key insights on the possible pathways for a sustainable food system in the Asia-Pacific region.” (Stefano Ponte, Professor of International Political Economy and the Director of the Centre for Business & Development Studies, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark)

Md Saidul Islam is Associate Professor of Sociology and the Coordinator of the Environment and Sustainability Research Cluster in the School of Social Sciences (SSS) and Asian School of the Environment (ASE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU).

Edson Kieu is Researcher at Singapore Management University, Singapore.