Opinion: The climate crisis is a nutrition crisis — but solutions exist

In West Africa, where we live, the impacts of the climate crisis are not abstract theories, but daily realities recounted by those who live them. In the Adamawa State of Nigeria, Farida Shagari, a 25-year-old mother of five, confronts the most relentless consequence of climate change — malnutrition. As her community contends with dwindling resources and escalating conflicts between nomadic herders and farmers over decreasing arable land, Shagari faces the monumental challenge of nourishing her children in an environment where access to food has become increasingly compromised. For Shagari and families like hers, the climate crisis is a nutrition crisis. Globally, there have been significant advances in reducing child malnutrition. Although these improvements are insufficient for the scale of the current crisis, it shows progress is possible. Now, the climate crisis threatens to undo hard-earned nutrition gains. Senegal, once celebrated for its success in driving down malnutrition, is showing a worrying trend of backsliding. Data from demographic and health surveys from 2019 and 2023 reveal a rise in acute malnutrition among young children from 8% to 10%, with the increase showing up in regions most affected by climate change. Despite malnutrition being named by the Gates Foundation as the world’s worst child health crisis and the recognition that climate change is making malnutrition more difficult to address, the percentage of climate funding for children’s nutrition is shockingly low. The World Bank’s updated nutritional investment framework states, “only 2.4% of key multilateral climate fund investments are child responsive.” We see the impact of climate-related malnutrition in West Africa and countries around the world. In Bangladesh, a country that was hit first and worst by the climate crisis, the impact on vulnerable communities is visceral. In June, we visited the Bandarban district of the Chittagong Hill Tracts where families struggling with poverty were steadily improving nutritional resilience through increased access to nutritious food and services. However, just two months later, the Bandarban district recorded more than 11 inches of rain over 24 hours. The devastation caused by floods and landslides obliterated food supplies, decimated livelihoods, and disrupted health services. The hard-earned progress made by those families over the past seven years was undone in a day. Extreme weather — too dry, too hot, too much rain — is the new reality. Currently, many countries in the Sahel band of Africa are being hit by unprecedented flooding. According to Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency, the heavy rains this year alone have caused flooding in 28 of the country’s 36 states, leading to the loss of hundreds of lives, displacing more than 200,000 people, and destroying over 260,000 acres of farmland. Conversations about climate change and its impact often take place on a global level. However, these academic and political discussions can overshadow the raw and immediate challenges faced by those bearing the brunt of climate consequences. If you meet Shagari, she’ll share how erratic weather patterns have made the essential act of feeding her family fraught with uncertainty. Her story mirrors the experiences of many who, while not scholars or scientists, understand the harsh realities of climate change through daily survival. Everyone has a role in supporting families like Shagari’s, who are threatened by the intersecting crises of climate change and malnutrition. While many organizations and governments work to mitigate climate change, we must also scale proven solutions that ensure access to nutritious food and life-saving services, protecting children from the devastation of our rapidly changing planet. Multiple micronutrient supplements deliver 15 essential vitamins and minerals often lacking in the diets of pregnant women. As climate change disrupts food systems and limits access to diverse, nutrient-rich foods, these supplements offer vital nutrition for healthy development. To enhance reach and efficacy, health campaigns and distribution programs through local health care providers, clinics, and community centers can ensure these supplements are accessible to all expectant mothers. However, many countries have yet to scale these efforts by integrating the supplements into existing maternal and child health programs and improving access for low-income populations. Food fortification is one of the quickest actions to build essential nutrition in the food supply by incorporating critical nutrients — such as iron, folic acid, iodine, vitamin A, and zinc — into foods that people consume every day. Governments can improve performance by enforcing mandatory fortification standards and supporting industries to meet the standards. Governments can also provide tax- and duty-free waivers to imported premixes (a blend of vitamins and minerals) and fortification equipment. The World Health Organization’s new guidelines on the management of wasting — the deadliest form of malnutrition — highlight the urgent need to expand the detection of at-risk children during every health system contact and ensure they receive the necessary treatment. Climate-adaptive agriculture includes techniques that adjust farming practices to the realities of climate change. This can range from developing drought-resistant crops like orange-fleshed sweet potatoes to implementing water conservation techniques such as drip irrigation or rainwater harvesting systems. These practices not only sustain agricultural productivity but also secure food sources for communities most vulnerable to climate impacts. To support these initiatives, investments in education and training on sustainable farming techniques and nutritionally diverse diets are essential. It’s more urgent than ever to fund and scale these and other nutrition solutions. This is how we build the resilience communities need to survive, thrive, and transform their lives in the face of growing climate challenges. Our planet is changing — our children and their families cannot wait.