The Four Ws of Food Insecurity: A Climate Lens on a Global Crisis

In episode 249 of the J.P. Morgan Making Sense Podcast - titled "The Four Ws Driving Food Insecurity: War, Weather, Waste and Water  (Listen to the podcast here) the complex and devastating drivers of food insecurity are explored. 

As I listened, I couldn't help but reflect on how deeply interconnected these issues are with the climate crisis. War, weather, waste, and water - these aren't just abstract concepts; they're harsh realities shaping our future. I like to keep things light, but unless we confront these issues with urgency, the situation will only worsen.

Let's start with war, where the human cost is staggering, and food insecurity is often wielded as a weapon. The podcast highlights how conflict disrupts agricultural systems and supply chains, leaving millions without access to food. For example the war in Ukraine has lead to a global crisis as both Ukraine and Russia are among the largest wheat exporters in the world. In Gaza, 96% of the population faces acute food insecurity.

Then, there's weather, arguably the most alarming because its effects are accelerating. Climate change is no longer hypothetical, it's here. Rising temperatures, droughts, and floods are no longer occasional disruptions, they are the norm. Unfortunately those most affected by climate-driven food shortages are often the least responsible for the emissions causing these changes.

Waste feels like the most fixable, yet it remains an issue. Roughly a third of all food produced globally is wasted. While millions go hungry, we're throwing away resources that could save lives. This is a logistical and systemic issue. We should be treating waste as an emergency.

Finally, water, the foundation of agriculture is becoming increasingly scarce. Climate change is disrupting rainfall patterns, causing droughts and catastrophic floods. Water management is crucial for food security but inefficient irrigation systems, pollution, and overuse are depleting our water resources at an unsustainable rate.

What this episode underscored for me is that food insecurity isn't just about hunger; it's about power, inequality, and the choices we make as a global community. War exacerbates suffering, climate change magnifies vulnerabilities, and systemic inefficiencies like waste and water mismanagement reveal a lack of foresight. Addressing these issues requires more than just talk. It demands action - on a global scale. Governments need to prioritise sustainable agricultural practices. Corporations need to stop wasting food and water in the name of profit. And we, as individuals, need to hold them accountable while making changes in our own lives such as reducing the consumption of animal products at all levels. If we want to solve this problem, we need to stop pointing fingers and start working together.