Climate Change
and Nutrition
Photo ©EU/ECHO/Edward Echwalu
The climate crisis and the nutrition crisis are intertwined
ST4N published a policy brief and Call to Action in February 2025 that examines the crucial relationship between climate change and nutrition. The brief identifies policy pathways that can simultaneously address climate adaptation and improve nutrition outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations facing climate-related shocks.
Climate change is causing more frequent and severe extreme weather events, shifting weather patterns, and altering food systems—trends that will continue to worsen. There is strong evidence that actions to mitigate or adapt to climate change can also improve nutrition, benefitting both climate and nutrition agendas. Yet, these two crises are often treated in isolation, limiting the impact of policies and investments in both areas.
Photo © Michael Castofas / WFP
Both climate change and malnutrition share common drivers and consequences, making it essential to align solutions. While there is an urgent need to increase investments in climate mitigation and adaptation measures, it is equally crucial to seize the opportunity to leverage climate investments and address hunger and malnutrition in tandem, especially for vulnerable populations. Achieving these joint outcomes will require:
- Stronger political will and commitment,
- More purposeful investments, and
- Coordinated, multi-sectoral collaboration and action.
While further research will help refine context-specific solutions, the policy brief’s recommendations provide immediate actions that can be taken now to protect vulnerable populations while addressing both climate and nutrition challenges. It will serve as a key component of the policy discussions at the Nutrition for Growth side events in Paris in late March 2025.
Related resources
The policy recommendations were presented at the Initiative on Climate Change and Nutrition (I-CAN) Roundtable Dialogue on February 5, 2025, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (SickKids), and the Government of France.
Additionally, in June 2024, Dr. Saskia Osendarp, Executive Director of the Micronutrient Forum, was invited by FAO to deliver a keynote address at Rome Nutrition Week, where she presented evidence on climate-nutrition connections within the context of food systems.
Technical Seminar on Nutrition and Climate Change: Rome Nutrition Week 6 June 2024
About ST4N
ST4N is multidisciplinary consortium of leading climate, food system, nutrition, gender, and health experts examining the scale and reach of climate crises and their adverse impact on nutrition for millions of vulnerable women and children. ST4N is hosted by the Micronutrient Forum, a nonprofit organization and the central global platform for evidence, collaboration, and advocacy on micronutrient health.
Learn more about the experts helping to guide ST4N’s work here.
