Climate change is one of the most urgent global challenges, with far-reaching implications for health and nutrition. The pace of climate action is insufficient to match the escalating challenges posed by climate change. Impacts and risks are becoming increasingly complex and difficult to address. Simultaneously, the world is grappling with hunger and various forms of malnutrition: over 30% of the global population suffers from micronutrient deficiencies, 828 million people are undernourished, and 676 million are obese. Vulnerable groups, including children, women, indigenous peoples, migrants, and refugees, face are mostly impacted.
According to the United Nations, “Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.”
Climate change undermines critical systems that support nutrition, including food production, diets, health, social protection, water and sanitation. Its effects threaten global food security through declining crop productivity, escalating food prices, and shifting dietary patterns towards cheaper, less nutritious foods. Additionally, climate change impacts nutrient levels in certain crops, exacerbating malnutrition. Extreme weather events further compound the problem by causing significant agricultural and food losses.
In Nigeria, the effects of climate change are increasingly visible, with poor nutrition outcomes linked to the changing landscape of food production and availability. Nigerian farmers predominantly depend on rain-fed agriculture, relying heavily on rainfall for water. This dependence makes them particularly vulnerable to the rising frequency of extreme weather events, such as floods, heat waves, and droughts. These events not only disrupt rainfall patterns but also degrade soil quality and reduce crop yields. The situation is further compounded by the fact that around 70 percent of Nigerians are smallholder farmers with limited access to advanced agricultural technologies.
Extreme temperatures and erratic precipitation now jeopardize the productivity of over half of Nigeria’s staple crops, posing a significant threat to the nation’s food security.
The interconnectedness of nutrition and climate change underscores the importance of sustainable, resilient, and healthy diets. These diets are essential for addressing all forms of malnutrition and are integral to achieving sustainable development. According to the Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN), transitioning to such diets can reduce health and climate change costs by up to $1.3 trillion, while enhancing food security amidst a changing climate. However, tackling hunger and malnutrition requires an integrated approach, encompassing not only food systems but also health, social protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems.
At CS-SUNN, we recognize the profound impact that climate change has on nutrition, and we are committed to addressing this issue through our multifaceted advocacy, policy support, and public awareness campaigns. Through our interventions, we work to ensure that food and nutrition security is not only a priority in the face of climate change but is actively integrated into climate action plans. We advocate for climate-smart agriculture, resilient food systems, and sustainable farming practices that can mitigate the negative effects of climate change on food and nutrition security, particularly for mothers and children.
Our programs empower communities to adapt to climate change by promoting climate-resilient nutrition strategies. We focus on strengthening food systems, ensuring that nutritious food is produced, accessible, and consumed despite environmental challenges. Through capacity-building efforts, we equip civil society and community-based organizations including farmers, policymakers, and healthcare providers, with the knowledge and tools needed to integrate nutrition and climate change solutions into their everyday practices. CS-SUNN is working to make the connection between climate action and nutrition clear and actionable for government at all levels.
From collaborating with national and international stakeholders on climate change and nutrition issues. From working with government ministries to engaging in global discussions on climate resilience, we are paving the way for stronger integration of nutrition into climate strategies. Through these efforts, CS-SUNN is contributing to a healthier, more sustainable future where climate change and nutrition are not seen as separate issues but as interconnected challenges that require collective action for lasting impact.
