Climate Change and Urban Food Security Challenges for Dhaka Monirul Mirza Adaptation & Impacts Research Section (AIRS), Environment Canada Bonn, May 13, 2012

The Three Questions What are the approaches to ensure UPA’s greater visibility in policy & planning for resilient cities? What are the responses for adapting urban agriculture and food systems to future climate change? What are the key enabling factors for promoting innovation in urban agriculture?

The Study Area for the UPA

UPA: Importance to Dhaka Uncertainty in food supply from rural areas UPA can contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and public health UA can positively contribute to environmental management Photos: Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute

Future Climate Change in Bangladesh Source: World Bank, 2010

Climate Change: Risks for Agriculture Production losses from increased floods, droughts, fogs & heat stress 3.1% annual agriculture GDP loss until 2050 Loss of employment Food security problem especially in urban centers Pressure on other key economic sectors Photos: Practical Action

Adaptation Options & Policies Learning from the past Identifying barriers and obstacles Mainstreaming of Adaptation Outlining future options Economics of adaptation Innovations & Capacity building Dissemination, implementation & evaluation Photos: Practical Action, BRRI & IRRI

Enabling Environment/Factors for UPA Innovation Knowledge & capacity needs assessment Investments in innovation policy & associated governance structure Investments in regulatory frameworks that affect agricultural innovation Investments in urban/peri-urban credit, agri- infrastructure, markets, etc. Environmental sustainability & poverty reduction

Policy & Action Responses UPA with special focus in the national agriculture policy Policy to integrate UPA with other sectoral policies, e.g. land, water, etc. Administrative & regulatory policy changes to promote UPA Promoting UPA as an integral component of resilient city concept Special investment policy for innovations focusing on the UPA