10 December 2019, Madrid, Spain - The effects of climate change on plant health were highlighted at a side event hosted by the Government of Tonga during the eighth day of the 25th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP25) in Madrid, Spain.
The side event was also used to promote the International Year of Plant Health 2020, which is an opportunity to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development.
Plant health is increasingly under threat due to the impacts of climate change. There is clear evidence that climate change is altering the distribution and life cycle of animal and plant pests and diseases.
The increase in global temperatures have resulted in the increase in calamities and natural disasters, not only in frequency, but in severity as well. This causes species of pests and diseases to appear earlier that usual in the season, and results in greater impacts on plant health.
“The Pacific region holds three of the 35 global biodiversity hotspots. We have over 400 endemic species of plants, and approximately 90% of native plant species are endemic, but are small in numbers due to our small size and the isolation of our islands,” said Dr. Viliami Kami, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Fisheries of the Government of Tonga who presented at the side event.
“When we talk about how climate change affects plant health, we are talking about cyclones, we are talking about El Niño, we are talking about the increase in severity of natural disasters that befall our region.”
“These disasters bring with them various types of diseases, for example, the taro leaf blight, or phytophthora colocasiae. This disease’s transboundary movements are exacerbated by cyclones, causing extensive damage to taro, which is a staple in our Pacific island diets.”
Pests are now able to be established in areas where they were not able to previously, threatening the survival of insects which are critical to sustaining plant life. Countries in higher latitudes will feel the brunt of these effects, as they will encounter more pests and more severe outbreaks.
“The rhinoceros beetle is also another problematic pest in the Pacific, which destroys our tree of life, the coconut. This is another pest whose transboundary movements are exacerbated by cyclones and other natural disasters,” said Mr Kami.
Other panellists speaking at the “Towards the International Year of Plant Health in 2020: Protecting Plants, Protecting Lives” side event were Mr Ralph Lopian of Finland, and representatives of the International Plant Protection Convention.
The side event was held on 10 December 2019 at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, a feature of the UNFCCC COP25 in Madrid, Spain. To learn more about the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion please visit www.pacific-pavilion.com or download the Attendify App, search for Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion and create your profile to join.
The UNFCCC COP25 is being held from 2 – 13 December 2019.