American actor, Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba have called on business and political leaders to provide more support to the world’s poorest countries, especially people hit by food scarcity and climate change.
The couple made the call at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos, where they were honoured for their work on environmental conservation, food security and climate change.
The couple, who are Goodwill Ambassadors for the United Nations’ International Fund for Agricultural Development, appealed to participants at the annual summit for fast financial support for people across countries in dire need.
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“The poor of this world are not just looking for aid and handouts, they’re looking for investment. We understand the power and change that can come from this room. We can move with agility and speed and your speed is needed now,” Elba was quoted to have said.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) forecast has shown extreme weather conditions will likely increase in frequency and magnitude in the years to come, thereby putting global and local food systems at increased risk of disruption with potential supply shortages and price hikes.
Sabrina Dhowre Elba highlighted food crises in Somalia, Haiti, Sudan and other countries, focusing on the plight of small-scale farmers without access to the resources they need and yet produce a third of the planet’s food.
“Rural communities are filled with talented, youthful populations and enormous potential for new and vibrant markets. The private sector can play a massive role in supporting and sourcing from small farmers and in ensuring world leaders continue to invest in holistic ways to combat environmental degradation and rising hunger,” she said.
Story was adapted from Reuters.
