Overview

Climate change threatens to worsen food security by affecting all its dimensions: food availability, food access, food utilization and stability in complex ways and is driven by a combination of factors including extreme climate hazards, economic shocks and conflicts. The increasing frequency and intensity of climate extremes, such as floods, droughts, and high temperatures, have led to the breakdown of food systems.

This includes decreased agricultural yields, reduced livestock and fisheries production, and disruptions in food distribution. These changes have significantly impacted the livelihoods, health, nutrition, and water resources of vulnerable populations. Groups such as children, pregnant and lactating women, women of reproductive age, and those reliant on climate-sensitive livelihoods, particularly in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), are most affected by these climate impacts. Unfortunately, these populations, who are already at risk from climate shocks and disrupted food systems, also face a higher vulnerability to malnutrition.

Climate change, therefore, exacerbates the multiple burdens of malnutrition; undernutrition (wasting, underweight and stunting), micronutrient deficiencies (lack of essential vitamins and minerals), and overweight/obesity, which are associated with diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDS) like type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, some cancers, among other diseases. Malnutrition has far-reaching consequences that impact physical health, cognitive and mental well-being, and overall quality of life.

Physically, it can lead to growth and developmental issues such as stunting, wasting, and being underweight. Additionally, malnutrition weakens the immune system and can cause dysfunction in various organ systems. Cognitively, malnutrition impairs brain development and function, which can result in poor educational outcomes and behavioral changes, including attention deficits. This not only reduces the quality of life for affected individuals but also leads to decreased productivity and economic burdens on society. In extreme cases, malnutrition can result in diet-related morbidity and mortality The groups most at risk for malnutrition include infants and young children, pregnant and lactating women, and women of reproductive age, particularly due to disruptions in food systems.

Yet, these groups often have both increased nutrient needs and less agency over their food choices, which are constrained by their livelihood incomes, sociocultural norms, and gender inequality. It’s therefore imperative that food security and healthy diets (the consistent access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets individual dietary needs) are crucial for maintaining optimal nutritional status, enabling an individual to lead an active and healthy life.

The multidimensional and complex relationships between climate change, food security and ultimately nutrition and health are increasingly becoming evident. Climate change is expected to greatly impact food and nutrition security.These present both a challenge and an opportunity for collaborative approaches and action to foster the well-being of populations. These include:

Promotion of cross-sectoral collaboration and initiatives to develop co-benefits between environment and nutrition aspirations. These sectors include climate -related and nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive sectors.
Having policies and strategies targeted at reducing climate change and its impacts through mitigation and adaptation at national, sub-national, household and individual levels, especially targeting vulnerable populations within climate-sensitive livelihoods to minimize the negative impact of climate shocks while being sensitive to respond to its impacts on nutrition outcomes
Promoting a comprehensive approach that incorporates sustainable food systems, agricultural and livestock development, health, social protection, and risk management through early warning systems to ensure populations have access to healthy and varied diets.
Investing in research and development ecosystem to address the complexities of the interlinkages between climate, food security, health and nutrition, including innovations to boost food and nutrition security
Strengthening the capacities of governments, research and academia institutions, the private sector and implementing organizations to assess and manage climate change and implement programs that address climate impact on food security, health and nutrition.

Key Facts

1 in 9 people globally face chronic hunger

Climate change could reduce crop yields by 10-25% by 2050

Food systems account for 30% of global emissions

Overview

Key Facts

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