17 september 2024 : According to the latest Goalkeepers report, “A Race to Nourish a Warming World,” climate change could lead to an additional 40 million children suffering from severe hunger and 28 million more experiencing wasting between 2024 and 2050. Immediate action to address these issues could not only prevent these outcomes but also enhance resilience to climate change and foster economic growth.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which released the report, is urging global leaders to increase health spending to improve children’s nutrition, especially given the growing climate crisis. The report highlights that in 2023, 148 million children were affected by stunting and wasting, severe forms of malnutrition with long-term consequences.
Despite these challenges, foreign aid to Africa has decreased from 40% in 2010 to just 25% in 2023. This reduction threatens to undo progress made in global health and leaves many children vulnerable to preventable diseases and death.
Bill Gates, co-chair of the foundation, emphasizes that addressing malnutrition is crucial, as it is exacerbated by climate change. He calls for sustained global health funding, support for the Child Nutrition Fund, and full backing for effective health institutions like Gavi and the Global Fund.
The economic impact of malnutrition is significant, with a $3 trillion annual productivity loss globally. Gates advocates for investing in nutrition as a key strategy to mitigate climate change impacts and enhance overall development. Proven solutions include new agricultural technologies, fortifying staple foods, and providing high-quality prenatal vitamins.
In specific cases, new agricultural practices in countries like India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania could prevent 109 million cases of stunting by 2050. Fortification efforts in Ethiopia and Nigeria could significantly reduce anemia and prevent deaths from neural tube defects. Additionally, providing prenatal vitamins could save nearly half a million lives and improve birth outcomes for 25 million babies by 2040.