Participating in the Interactive Dialogue with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Climate Change, Dr. Arvind Kumar, President of the India Water Foundation, stressed that transforming global food systems has become essential for safeguarding human rights as climate-related disruptions intensify across the world.
Dr. Kumar said climate change and food insecurity are deeply interconnected issues that cannot be addressed separately. He underlined that reforming food systems is no longer merely an agricultural objective but a fundamental human rights issue, as extreme weather conditions increasingly threaten access to adequate and nutritious food.
He noted that rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, floods and other severe weather events are affecting agricultural productivity worldwide. These developments are reducing crop yields, disrupting livestock production, damaging supply chains and contributing to higher food prices, thereby placing growing pressure on global food security.
Highlighting India's response to these challenges, Dr. Kumar referred to the development of climate-resilient crop varieties that require less water while maintaining productivity. He said these innovations are helping strengthen food and nutritional security while enhancing the resilience of farming communities, particularly in vulnerable regions.
He also drew attention to the Government of India's National Mission on Natural Farming, launched in 2024, which promotes ecosystem-based agricultural practices aimed at improving soil health, reducing dependence on chemical inputs and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Reaffirming the India Water Foundation's commitment to climate action, Dr. Kumar said the organisation supports initiatives that place human rights at the centre of environmental and agricultural policies in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and international climate commitments.
Alongside the proceedings of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the India Water Foundation organised a photo exhibition at Geneva's renowned Broken Chair Square to showcase India's achievements in public health, nutrition, water management, sanitation and community welfare.
The exhibition highlighted the close relationship between health, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene services. Organisers emphasised that inadequate access to clean water and sanitation often leads to diseases such as diarrhoea and parasitic infections, which impede nutrient absorption and contribute to malnutrition.
The display demonstrated how integrated investments in healthcare, nutrition, safe drinking water and sanitation are improving quality of life and helping build stronger, healthier and more resilient communities across India.
Through its participation in the United Nations Human Rights Council session and related outreach activities, India sought to demonstrate how climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable resource management and inclusive development can collectively address some of the most pressing global challenges of the twenty-first century. The discussions and initiatives presented at Geneva underscored the growing recognition that protecting food systems, water resources and public health has become inseparable from the broader struggle to safeguard human rights in an era of accelerating climate change.
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