Women farmers tend to crops amid drought in Zambia.

Climate change and hunger

The climate crisis is worsening. Vulnerable farmers and communities have no food security. This is how the changing climate is impacting global hunger.

Climate change is a big cause of hunger and malnutrition around the world.

And without change, the warming climate and related biodiversity loss will cause famine and food insecurity globally. Extreme weather events will become more frequent and growing seasons will be shorter.

We’re in a climate crisis. This is a humanitarian emergency.

Woman farmer in Mali tending to crops amid drought from climate change.

How the climate crisis is worsening food insecurity

Climate change is causing extreme weather events like droughts, floods, wildfires, causing a long term threat to food security and nutrition.

The world is reaching record high temperatures, seriously impacting how much food is available.

Extreme weather can force people to leave their homes and their livelihoods. Crops can be reduced, destroyed or fail completely.

In turn, this all leads to a drop in farming and food production. And less food means more hunger.

Community in Kenya gathering around flood waters caused by climate change.

Climate change and extreme weather

Countries across the world are experiencing more and more extreme weather leading to climate disasters.

Severe drought is a leading cause of undernutrition in more than a third of countries that have seen a rise in hunger levels in the past 15 years.

In the Sahel region of Africa – which includes countries such as Niger, Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso – the rainy seasons are becoming more erratic.

Droughts are leading to a decrease in food production while floods are causing outbreaks of diseases like cholera.

By 2050, the risk of hunger and malnutrition could rise by 20% if we fail to reduce and prevent the adverse effects of extreme weather.

Woman farmer in DRC talks to Action Against Hunger staff.

How to stop hunger caused by the climate crisis

We work on long term farming and food production solutions to empower communities impacted by the changing climate.

We’re teaching farmers about climate-smart growing techniques and introducing nutritious, hardy crops that can better extreme weather conditions caused by the climate crisis.

Even when rainfall is limited, it’s possible for gardens to flourish and provide enough to feed families and livestock. With the help of innovative techniques, our teams are helping farmers grow more crops with less water.

And in climate emergencies, our teams are ready to step in when a climate disaster strikes.

How climate is impacting famers

Extreme weather, rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall are making it harder to grow food. But farmers worldwide are are finding new ways to grow crops, protect their harvests and secure their livelihoods.

Farming innovation in Bangladesh

Erratic weather in Bangladesh is putting crops at risk. Explore how farmers like Shilpi and Sabuda are using sustainable techniques to protect their food supply.

Stories from farmers in Bangladesh

Women in Kenya adapting to climate

In Kenya, droughts are making it harder for families to grow food. With support from Action Against Hunger, women like Alice are using climate-smart farming to protect their children from hunger.

Leading the way in Kenya

8 crops affected by climate change

Farmer examining banana crop yields in Peru.

Crops like cocoa and coffee are being threatened by the changing climate. Learn what's at risk and how farmers are adapting to save their crops.

Climate impact on crops

  • Gallery Climate change innovation

    Improving soil


    Healthy soil means crops that thrive. In Pakistan we’re introducing crops like sugar beets, which can help reduce salt levels in soil.

  • Gallery Climate change innovation

    Weather alerts


    We're helping herders and farmers dodge drought by creating an innovative system of real-time alerts that help them find better grazing land.

  • Gallery Climate change innovation

    Farmer cooperatives


    We're setting up farmer co-operatives so farmers can rent larger plots of land for farming.

    Like in Uganda, where farmers can get together to negotiate fair prices for their produce.

  • Gallery Climate change innovation

    Harnessing solar power


    During a drought or a heatwave, the sun beats down on rural communities.

    But by using solar power that energy can be turned into a force for good to fuel everything from water pumps to irrigation systems.

The ripple effects of the climate crisis

Climate change doesn't just affect the environment. It worsens other global issues, like food insecurity, conflict and gender inequality.

Food shortages and food security

Alice in a cabbage field supported by Action Against Hunger in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As extreme weather destroys crops and drives up prices, food shortages are leaving healthy food out of reach for millions.

How climate affects food security

Climate pressures and conflict

People fleeing their homes on a dirt road in Sudan.

Loss of land, water and resources can lead to conflict and displacement, increasing hunger in the hardest-hit communities.

How climate and conflict link

Growing gender inequality

A group of women supported by Action Against Hunger in Ethiopia.

Women and girls often face the greatest risks during climate disasters and emergencies, with less access to food, income and support.

Gender inequality and hunger
Donate to Myanmar Earthquake Emergency Appeal.

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake has devastated MyanmarDEC Myanmar Earthquake Appeal

Myanmar was already facing a severe humanitarian crisis. One third of the population need emergency humanitarian aid. One in four people already didn’t have enough food to eat. Now the situation is catastrophic.

DEC charities, including Action Against Hunger, are already on the ground in Myanmar, supporting affected communities and working hard to access remote areas.

Please donate to the DEC Myanmar Earthquake Appeal to ensure we can get urgent help to people who need it most.

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Climate change publications

Front cover of Action Against Hunger's report

Report

The human face of climate change

Climate change is fuelling a global hunger and nutrition crisis that is exacerbating existing inequalities and has severe, compounding impacts on women and girls. Here are our asks for addressing the malnutrition crisis at COP29.

Climate Change proposition paper - woman standing on fallen tree in flooded surroundings.

Proposition Paper

Climate change proposition paper

Rising temperatures and extreme weather are having a huge impact on people who already live in some of the toughest places on earth. Learn more about the effects of climate change and what we're doing to combat it.