Floods and droughts due to climate change and changes in rainfall patterns at the global and regional levels due to rising temperatures are having a major impact on food security and human well-being through changes in the agricultural season. On October 5, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its white paper, 2021 State of Climate Services: Water, stressing the urgent need for policy development and investment in sustainable development goals, climate change adaptation, and disaster crisis mitigation.

The 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be held in Glasgow, UK from October 31 to November 12, 2021. This conference is seen as the last chance for the international community to take control of the climate emergency. Climate change action requires a global response, and while many countries are setting ambitious goals for COP26, the fact is that many developing countries need support for capacity.

In September 2021, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released a new report on the relationship between climate change and sustainable development goals (Climate Development and Sustainable Development: Demonstrating the Interconnections). Of the 17 SDGs, the one affected by all seven indicators is SDG 2, "Zero hunger," and requires the use of scientific and technological innovations to address climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.

Today, September 29th, is the International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste as designated by the United Nations. Globally, food loss and waste account for 38% of the total energy used in the global food system, which could feed 2 billion people, and 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are related to food loss and waste. Goal 12.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to reduce food loss and waste, and action to reduce food loss and waste cannot wait.

The United Nations Food Systems Summit, an international discussion on food system transformation, was held on September 23, 2021. This summit, positioned as the “People's Summit”, is the first time that a UN summit has been held so openly. The Chair's Summary Statement of Aactions listed five key areas on how to make global progress on the SDGs and ensure basic human rights, namely, (1) Nourish all people, (2) Boost nature-based solutions, (3) Advance equitable livelihoods, decent work and empowered communities, (4) Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stresses, and (5) Support means of implementation.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) formulated the "Green Food System Strategy" in May 2021, emphasizing the importance of innovations that can reduce environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions without affecting food productivity. While there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all innovation, sharing knowledge on promoting social implementation among regions that share similar environmental and social conditions is expected to ensure food and nutrition security and accelerate climate change response. For Japan, which is located in the Asian monsoon region, it is extremely important to promote innovation in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors through networking with agricultural research and development institutions active in the region. JIRCAS will hold an international symposium online on November 17 with the theme “The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation in Achieving Sustainable Food Systems in the Asia Monsoon Region - A Platform for International Collaboration”.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) held its 7th World Conservation Congress from September 3 to 11, 2021. The IUCN has been publishing the Red List of Threatened Species since 1964 as comprehensive information on the global conservation status of animals, plants and fungi. Currently, 28% of the species assessed, or more than 38,500 species, are reported to be threatened with extinction. The conference adopted a resolution that includes protecting 80% of the Amazon by 2025, targeting 30% of terrestrial and marine areas for conservation, stopping deep-sea mining in the ocean, and the international community adopting an ambitious 'One Health' approach.