10+1 things to know about food security and climate change

What we eat is one of the biggest contributors to climate change, along with fossil fuel use and deforestation. Climate change threatens food security both directly and indirectly almost everywhere in the world. However, a lot can be done to improve the situation.

Text: FCA Working Group
Illustration: Carla Ladau

1 Climate change is changing food production.

Food production and distribution are affected by changes in temperature and rainfall, the increase in storms and other extreme weather events, rising sea levels, the spread of disease, a reduction in pollinators and an increase in crop-eating insects amongst other factors. The impacts on food security are multidimensional, making it impossible to predict the consequences with certainty.

2 Food security is faltering.

Food security is achieved when all people – including future generations – have access to enough safe and nutritious food from one day to the next. For example, climate change may affect the availability of food on the market and reduce individual access to food. Climate change can also affect the quality of food.

3 Extremes increase insecurity.

According to the Global Report on Food Crises by the Global Network Against Food Crises, nearly 282 million people in almost 60 countries experienced acute food insecurity in 2023. Although the underlying factors are diverse and mutually reinforcing, the report estimates that extreme weather events were the cause of food insecurity in 18 countries, or about 72 million people. Other factors causing food insecurity include instability, conflict and economic crises.

4 The spiral fuels itself.

Because ecosystems are complex entities, undesirable developments in one area often accelerate them in others. Heat fuels drought, which in turn increases the need for irrigation, which affects water quality and availability. In some areas, global warming may be thought to improve yields, but at the same time, plant diseases and insects may spread. The chemicals used for control also affect pollinators.

5 Food shortages create refugees.

Climate change knows no borders. For example, droughts or floods can deprive entire communities of their livelihoods, and sometimes the only way to survive is to leave their homes. Those forced to leave their homes often end up in areas where there is already a food crisis. When large numbers of people settle in existing communities, disputes over resources can lead to conflict and instability, which already undermines food security.

6 Adaptation is unavoidable.

There are already many ways to improve food security that have been forgotten in the context of mono-cultural intensive production. Innovations have already been seen, for example, in plant proteins, the production of which places a significantly lower burden on the environment than animal production. It can also be a matter of simple changes: in Kenya, some pastoral communities have replaced cows with camels, which are more tolerant of drought and heat.

7 Our relationship with food needs to change.

The current food system in the so-called developed countries is unsustainable. According to estimates by the UN’s agricultural and environmental organizations, more than a tenth of food is lost before it is sold. In households, restaurant services and shops, almost a fifth is lost. Improving food security requires a significant change in attitude, especially in the global North, and a more equitable distribution of food.

8 Changes can be good too.

Industrialised animal production in particular poses significant ethical and environmental problems that accelerate climate change. A shift to a plant-based diet would also be good for human health. For example, with the return of traditional preservation methods and new recipes, a planetary diet could bring many benefits to people, other animals, and the environment – ​​and thus also to the survival of the human species.

9 Solutions can be found in nature.

Mono-cultures or giant livestock farms that are prone to diseases and pests are detrimental to biodiversity. Agroecology, or diverse food production, is a more sustainable option from a land use and biodiversity perspective. Solutions must be tailored to each region, as there is no one-size-fits-all recipe. Local food production strengthens communities and reduces dependence on imported food.

10 Food security is part of resilience.

Adequate and nutritious food is a vital part of the well-being of both individuals and communities. It is not just that only a well-nourished person can be a productive part of their community. Food insecurity increases psychological vulnerability. Worrying about food often interferes with schooling and work.

+1: FCA is supporting this transition.

Food security is strongly linked to Finn Church Aid’s work on peace, livelihoods and education. Sustainable food production helps, for example, in conflict prevention, and by providing education rather than supporting livelihoods, people have better opportunities for sustainable and local food production and diets.

Sources: Interview with Aly Cabrera, climate expert at Finnish Church Aid, IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land, FAO and WFP Hunger Hotspots report, and 2024 Global Report on Food Crises.