In Santiago on January 27, a United Nations study was published, revealing that climate variability and extreme weather events are affecting at least 20 Latin American countries, heightening the risk of hunger and malnutrition in the region.
The economies of Latin America and the Caribbean heavily rely on agriculture, forestry, ranching, and fishing industries, all directly linked to food security and highly susceptible to droughts, floods, and storms.
Scientists warn that climate change will exacerbate extreme weather conditions. Latin America, identified as the world's second-most exposed region after Asia, may struggle to ensure food security in the future.
As per the study, 74% of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have already been impacted by extreme weather events, with half of them potentially facing increased malnutrition rates. The report titled "Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2024" highlighted that 41 million people in the region suffered from hunger in 2023.
Although there has been progress, with 2.9 million fewer hungry people in 2023 compared to 2022, and a reduction of 4.3 million compared to 2021, the study cautions that climate threats could reverse this positive trend.
The study emphasized that "Climate variability and extreme weather events are reducing agricultural productivity, disrupting food supply chains, increasing prices, impacting food environments, and threatening progress in reducing hunger and malnutrition in the region."
The report was a collaborative effort of five United Nations agencies: the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Pan American Health Organization, the World Food Program, and the United Nations Children's Fund.