Kerry: US ready to work with all countries on climate change

Milan, Oct 18: US Secretary of State John Kerry said here at the Milan world exposition that the US stands ready to work with all countries on food security and climate change.

Kerry stated on Saturday in commemoration of World Food Day, celebrated a day earlier at the nutrition-themed Expo Milano 2015, Xinhua reported.

"There is no question that the challenges that we are facing are significant. The US stands ready to work with all countries," he underlined.

In his view, climate change is perhaps the most significant threat to global food security today.

The hard truth, he said, is that unless the global community comes together to address climate change, droughts, floods, extreme weather, ocean acidification, hunger and malnutrition will only become more pronounced.

Kerry defined climate change as a "threat multiplier" which even if does not ignite conflict, has the ability to fan the flames and to make situations much more complicated for political leaders to deal with.

"For all of these reasons, it is essential that we address the challenges of food security and climate change in a way that is coordinated," he added.

Pursuance of a "climate-smart agriculture", he explained was the need of the hour, and involved agricultural productivity in a way that is sustainable over time, food systems that are able to adapt to climate impacts and ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural sources.

"Later this year, the world will come together at the United Nations Climate Conference in Paris. And we need every country on the same page, all pushing for an ambitious, durable, and inclusive agreement that will finally put us on the path towards a global clean-energy future," he concluded.

While in Milan, Kerry met with Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni to discuss bilateral relationship and global issues, and visited the US pavilion at the Expo, that had the theme 'American Food 2.0: United to Feed the Planet'.

Kerry will travel to Paris, France, to attend an event in support of the US' re-election to the UNESCO executive board for the 2015-2019 term.

He will also visit Madrid, Spain, from October 18-19.

IANS