1.3 BILLION PEOPLE HEADING TOWARDS CLIMATIC FOOD POVERTY.
Studies have established that climate change poses significant threats to the global food production system, which is highly reliant on ecosystems and water resources. These threats include disruptions in the water cycle, such as extreme climatic events and groundwater depletion, impacting regions differently. In a recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers used a large-dimensional computational model to investigate the effects of heat and water stress on global food security and food production. Their results indicate that by 2050, food production worldwide could decline by up to 14%, with an increase of up to 1.36 billion people experiencing severe levels of food insecurity, highlighting the critical need for addressing water and heat stress in climate change policies. Critical risks identified include water and heat stress on food production worldwide, exacerbated by increased water extraction for various sectors, particularly irrigated agriculture. Integrated assessment models (IAMs) have highlighted increased food insecurity due to population growth, dietary changes, and agricultural efficiencies, especially under regional rivalry and inequality scenarios, two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). Additionally, mitigation efforts to reduce emissions often lead to higher production costs and food prices, particularly affecting low-income regions. With many countries panicking about thousands of refugees on the move due to war and social upheaval what are they going to do when there are millions on the move due to famine ?
