Strong Ties Between Climate Change and Global Food Insecurity

At some point during 2020, 10.5 percent, or 13.8 million of U.S. households were food insecure. Beyond the United States, about 9.2% of the world, or 689 million people, live in extreme poverty. This is defined by the World Bank as less than $1.90 a day. These statistics emphasize the prevalence of poverty globally and subsequently the inability to access nutritious food.

Today climate change is indisputably a central cause of the harm experienced on our planet. Continuing change in weather sequences has become a dominant influence on the Earth’s global and regional climates. The natural balance of animals, plants, land, the sun’s energy and atmosphere working in unison if altered in one area, can cause a domino effect leading to global climate change. Humans are the primary cause of this severe change. Throughout the last couple centuries the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil has caused a significant increase of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Modifying the natural greenhouse gasses has resulted in an increasingly warmer planet,

rising sea levels, melting glaciers and more, all causing detrimental impact. Along with fossil fuels humans are also contributing to the issue by overconsumption. The shortening growing period for agricultural products and ocean acidification has decreased the availability of nutritious foods such as corn and sea creatures. However, the consumption rates of these foods have not gone down.

Unpredictable harvest can be attributed to a variety of climate change-related factors depending on the area. For example, in Bangladesh and Vietnam rising sea levels flood farmlands near the coast killing crops. Whereas, in Africa’s Sahel climate variability poses a challenge to farmers producing cereal crops. Regardless of the recurring issue, the result remains the same: lower food production, reduced access to food, decreased nutritional value and increased food waste.

In order to combat increasing levels of food insecurity, wealthy countries that are largely responsible for climate change can help play a vital role in aiding other countries to adapt to changes. A pragmatic approach to a large issue like this is key to reducing the increased prospect of hunger in the future.

If you have means to do so, donate to those unable to access adequate meals https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/donate/save-lives-end-hunger

• https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/key-statistics-graphics/

• https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/key-statistics-graphics/

• https://www.worldvision.org/sponsorship-news-stories/global-poverty-facts

• https://www.concernusa.org/story/climate-change-and-hunger/