food insecurity
Newsletter
Credit: Filiz Elaerts/Unsplash
Namibia to slaughter elephants and zebras due to drought
Namibia plans to cull more than 700 animals, including elephants and hippos, to provide meat for people facing severe food insecurity during the country’s worst drought in a century.
In short:
- Namibia will cull 83 elephants, 30 hippos and other animals, distributing the meat to drought-stricken communities.
- The drought, caused by El Niño, has left nearly half of Namibia’s population facing acute food insecurity.
- The cull also aims to reduce human-wildlife conflict and alleviate pressure on natural resources.
Key quote:
“We are happy that we can assist the country in this very difficult time and when [it’s] absolutely needed.”
— Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism
Why this matters:
The drought in Namibia is a stark example of how climate change exacerbates natural disasters, leading to extreme measures like wildlife culls to prevent human starvation and manage ecosystems.
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As climate change worsens, junk food companies exploit the crisis for profit
As droughts and extreme heat become more common, communities in vulnerable regions are turning to ultraprocessed foods and sugary drinks, with junk food companies capitalizing on the dire situation to boost sales.
In short:
- Droughts and extreme weather are making fresh food and clean water scarce, driving poor communities to rely on junk food.
- Companies are aggressively marketing sugary drinks and snacks, particularly to children, under the guise of combating malnutrition.
- Governments need to take stronger action to ensure access to healthy food and water to counter these predatory practices.
Key quote:
"There’s no better time to rein the sales of these foods in — the hotter future will only make us further dependent on them."
— Lindsey Smith Taillie, director of the Global Food Research Program
Why this matters:
With fresh produce becoming scarcer and more expensive, junk food companies are seizing the opportunity to push their products aggressively, exacerbating public health crises, particularly in poor and vulnerable communities. Read more: The outsized role processed food plays in our health and environment.
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Newsletter
Credit: Josh Withers/Unsplash
Climate change exacerbates global hunger crisis
One in 11 people experienced hunger last year, with climate change playing a major role.
In short:
- A United Nations report reveals that climate change and conflict are major drivers of global hunger and food insecurity.
- In 2023, 733 million people went hungry, with significant increases in chronic undernourishment since 2019.
- Extreme weather events and migration due to climate change disrupt food production and supply chains, worsening food insecurity.
Key quote:
“The agrifood system is working under risk and uncertainties, and these risks and uncertainties are being accelerated because of climate [change] and the frequency of climate events.”
— Máximo Torero Cullen, chief economist of the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization
Why this matters:
Global hunger and food insecurity threaten human rights and economic stability, particularly in low-income nations. Without climate action, these issues will worsen, fueling more migration and conflict.
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Credit: Magiorestock/Big Stock Photo
The people who supply food in America are facing hunger
Climate change and rising costs are forcing many farmworkers in the U.S. to struggle with food insecurity.
In short:
- Farmworkers like Rosa Morales face extreme heat, low wages, and lack of protection while working.
- Rising food prices and decreased crop yields due to climate change worsen their financial strain.
- Many farmworkers are ineligible for federal aid, leading to reliance on community gardens and food pantries.
Key quote:
“When we talk about supply chains and food prices going up, we are not thinking about the people who are producing that food, or getting it off the fields and onto our plates.”
— Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Why this matters:
Farmworkers, who are already among the lowest-paid laborers in the country, are bearing the brunt of climate-driven disasters and inflation. Extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and heatwaves are reducing crop yields and disrupting work schedules. This not only diminishes their earnings but also exacerbates the physical strain of their jobs. The rising costs of living, driven by inflation, are stretching their already thin budgets to the breaking point.
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Newsletter
Credit: Stéphanie Vaudry/Flickr
How the world wastes an astonishing amount of food, in three charts
A recent UN report highlights how over a trillion dollars' worth of food is wasted annually, exacerbating climate change and food insecurity globally.
In short:
- The UN's 2024 Food Waste Index found that more than 780 million people were hungry in 2022, despite vast amounts of food being wasted.
- Food waste contributes up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, worsening climate change.
- Solutions to food waste require coordinated efforts from governments, businesses, and individuals alike.
Key quote:
Food waste reduction is "an opportunity to reduce costs and to tackle some of the biggest environmental and social issues of our time: fighting climate change and addressing food insecurity."
— Report authors
Why this matters:
Food waste not only worsens global hunger but also significantly impacts the environment, making it crucial to address this issue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure equitable food distribution. Read more: It is time to respect the planet’s boundaries—and overhaul how we eat and waste food—if we want to feed our rising population.
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Credit: Erin Magee, DFAT/Sarah Boyd/Flickr
The Marshall Islands aren’t giving in to sea level rise
The precariously placed island nation has put together a comprehensive—if expensive—plan to survive sea level rise.
Credit: MAHMUD HAMSONIT HAMSONIT/Flickr
War's climate toll: Gaza conflict's heavy environmental impact
The Gaza war's emissions in just two months surpassed the yearly carbon output of a score of the world's most climate-vulnerable nations, a groundbreaking study indicates.
In short:
- The conflict produced 281,000 metric tons of CO2, mainly from Israel's military actions, equivalent to burning 150,000 tons of coal.
- U.S. cargo planes delivering military supplies to Israel contributed nearly half of these emissions.
- Rebuilding Gaza's damaged infrastructure will further exacerbate the climate crisis, with emissions comparable to New Zealand's annual output.
Key quote:
“This study is only a snapshot of the larger military boot print of war … a partial picture of the massive carbon emissions and wider toxic pollutants that will remain long after the fighting is over.”
— Benjamin Neimark, Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary, University of London.
Visit EHN's energy section for more top news about energy, climate and health.
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