It is a pleasure to greet this important side event.  Thank you for your presence in Marrakech and for your commitment to climate action.
 
Reaching zero hunger by 2030 is crucial for achieving all the Sustainable Development Goals. People who are well nourished live, learn and work longer, and contribute to economic growth and human development.
 
Despite great progress in the fight against hunger, nearly 800 million people are undernourished today. 
 
Climate change threatens to aggravate matters even further. Erratic weather patterns and an increase in the outbreaks of pests and diseases are affecting our ability to produce the food we need.  We have seen such impacts in recent months as El Niño hit Africa, Asia, Central America and other parts of the world.   
 
The Paris Agreement recognizes the fundamental priority of safeguarding food security and ending hunger, and the particular vulnerabilities of food production systems to the adverse impacts of climate change.  Countries are already making progress by including agriculture and food systems in their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) under the Paris Agreement.  Agricultural sectors are leading elements in 90 per cent of the national climate pledges for developing countries. Our challenge now is to scale-up investments in rural development and support climate adaptation.
 
Decisions at COP22 hold immense potential to accelerate and amplify global action towards a world free of hunger and malnutrition. Climate change, extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition must be addressed together, and sustainable, resilient and inclusive agriculture and food systems that deliver for people and planet are key to doing so.  Agriculture and food systems that are people-centred, sustainable and resilient are central to achieving the transformations envisioned in the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.
 
I urge all Governments and partners to deliver on our promise to be the Zero Hunger Generation.