Climate change is a hunger issue
People in low-income countries face the impact of climate change on a daily basis – even though they contribute least to greenhouse gas emissions. Erratic and more severe weather patterns affect their livelihoods and food security.
The effects of climate change are becoming more noticeable in wealthier parts of the world, but poor and marginalized communities, especially women and indigenous populations, in low-income countries are even more vulnerable than before to shocks beyond their control.
Impacts of climate change
Climate change affects the types of crops that can grow well in certain areas and reduces access to land suitable to growing food or grazing animals.
It has brought new crop diseases and pests to some regions. The nutrient content of some crops has changed because of climate change, and water supplies in some regions are shrinking.
And, perhaps easiest to see, weather patterns are changing. Super-charged cyclones and hurricanes are increasing hunger from Africa to the United States. Mozambique and Puerto Rico, places already struggling with food insecurity before weather-related disasters hit, require aid to survive and rebuild.
In the highlands of Guatemala, chronic malnutrition affects roughly sixty-five percent of a primarily agrarian population and out-migration to the United States is increasing due to extreme drought and flooding.
Increased hunger and loss of livelihood force people to seek more habitable places to live. Since 2008, nearly 175 million people in developing countries have been displaced by climate-induced disasters—a number that continues to grow.
Climate change is also contributing to a growing number of conflicts. These conflicts have driven an increase in hunger in recent years, reversing a decade of progress. A record number of people are living in near-famine conditions.
Who experiences climate change
Bread for the World advocates for people who are most threatened by climate change – people who are already hungry or at risk of hunger. The cost and availability of food affects these groups more than anyone else. In some countries, people in the lowest income group spend 75 percent or more of their incomes on food. Two such nations are Pakistan and Malawi.
Of those most threatened by climate change, women and girls bear the heaviest burdens. They must travel farther in search of water and firewood. They work land that is less fertile and may already be depleted.
Women and girls are also more threatened by natural disasters. For example, in many areas devastated by the 2004 South Asian tsunami, those who died were more likely to be female. In India’s Cuddalore district, nearly 90 percent of victims were women and girls.
Adapting to climate change requires many interconnected actions and policies. Building resilience in communities where people have always struggled to produce enough food needs to be a high priority as does identifying and adopting sustainable farming practices.
The global food system is already under tremendous pressure to be more productive and meet the needs of a growing global population. If countries cannot work together to find and implement solutions, ending hunger by 2030 will be out of reach and the encouraging progress against hunger of the past few decades will be lost.
Nearly 175 million people in developing countries have been displaced by climate-induced disasters since 2008
Related Resources
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
Election Resources
One of the best times to raise the issues of hunger and poverty is during election campaigns. Engage candidates in your state/district on hunger and poverty using our elections resources.U.S. Hunger and Poverty State Fact Sheets
These fact sheets provide a snapshot of hunger and poverty in the United States and in each state plus Washington, D.C.
Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Global Pandemic, Better Nutrition Protects Lives
With the coronavirus now spreading in low-resource contexts and new waves of infection expected in the coming year, better nutrition for vulnerable people is more important than ever.
For Faith
Finding Hope, Ending Hunger on Both Sides of the Border: A Bilingual Latino Devotional
Devotional writers challenge us to feel the Spirit of God within us and to hear God’s urgent call to demand justice so all can put food on the table.The Bible on Health as a Hunger Issue
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in faith.” These words from Colossians 2:6 remind us of the faith that is active in love for our neighbors.
The Bible on...
Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty
A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.
Dear Members of Congress,
As the president and Congress are preparing their plans for this year, almost 100 church leaders—from all the families of U.S. Christianity—are...
For Advocacy
Fact Sheet: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to respond to changes in need, making it well suited to respond to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fact Sheet: Why We Need $200 Million for Global Nutrition Programs
Bread for the World and its partners are asking Congress to provide $200 million for global nutrition in the fiscal year 2020 budget.
Fact Sheet: Hunger by the Numbers
In 2017, 11.8 percent of households in the U.S.—40 million people—were food-insecure, meaning that they were unsure at some point during the year about how they would provide for their next meal.