Climate change, natural disasters, armed conflicts and migrations at the crossroads between food and nutrition insecurity and undernourishment

Abstract

Global climate change refers to the long-term, large-scale shift in the planet’s weather patterns and average temperatures, primarily driven by human activities, particularly greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. It constitutes a global emergency, profoundly impacting human health, food security, and safety. Despite global efforts to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C, the consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent. According to the World Health Organization, between 2030 and 2050, climate change could cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths annually due to malnutrition and infectious diseases.

        Extreme weather events—prolonged droughts, heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and floods—threaten food systems, increasing the prevalence of zoonoses, food-, water-, and vector-borne diseases. These conditions displace millions of people annually, leading to the phenomenon of climate refugees. Beyond environmental factors, climate change also affects agricultural productivity and food quality, exacerbating hunger in vulnerable regions. It disrupts plant health, alters pathogen life cycles, and increases vulnerability to invasive species and diseases. Simultaneously, armed conflicts and geopolitical instability further aggravate migration and food insecurity, creating a vicious cycle that disproportionately impacts economically fragile regions.

        This study aims to explore the interconnections between climate change, armed conflict, migration, and global food insecurity. It highlights the causal relationships among these factors, emphasizing how extreme weather events, natural disasters, and conflicts affect food production, access, and distribution. By addressing key drivers—such as forced 

migration due to environmental and political crises—and analyzing the impact on vulnerable populations, particularly in Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, this research underscores the urgent need for a multidimensional response encompassing foreign, economic, energy, and food policies to mitigate the escalating risks to global food security.

Keywords: Global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, extreme weather events, food and nutrition security, natural disasters, armed conflicts, migrations.