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A newly released United Nations report has revealed that 74% of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are highly exposed to extreme weather events, significantly impacting food security and exacerbating malnutrition in the region. The findings were published in the 2024 Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and its partners.
The report highlights that Latin America and the Caribbean is the second most exposed region globally to extreme weather events, following Asia. Among the analyzed countries, 20 face frequent extreme climate events, with 14 classified as particularly vulnerable due to increased undernourishment risks. These challenges are compounded by structural issues such as economic slowdowns, inequality, limited access to healthy diets, and unhealthy food environments.
FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative Mario Lubetkin emphasized the critical role of agrifood system resilience in addressing these challenges. He called for comprehensive policies and actions to anticipate and adapt to the risks posed by climate variability and extreme events.
Hunger Declines but Disparities Persist
Despite the challenges, hunger in the region declined for the second consecutive year, with 41 million people affected in 2023—a reduction of 2.9 million compared to 2022. Significant progress was noted in South America, where economic recovery efforts and social protection programs have improved food access.
However, disparities remain. Hunger prevalence in the Caribbean increased to 17.2%, while Mesoamerica remained stable at 5.8%. Food insecurity also decreased regionally, affecting 187.6 million people in 2023—a significant drop of 37.3 million from 2021.
The report also highlights the gender gap in food insecurity, with women and rural populations disproportionately affected.
Malnutrition Amid Climate Challenges
Malnutrition continues to be a pressing issue, exacerbated by high exposure to climate shocks. The report reveals that stunting affects 11.5% of children under five in the region, while overweight prevalence among children is rising, reaching 8.6%—3 percentage points above the global average.
Karin Hulshof, UNICEF Regional Director a.i., stressed the urgent need for climate actions that prioritize the right to food and nutrition for vulnerable populations, especially children and women.
Barriers to Healthy Diets and Economic Inequities
In 2022, 182.9 million people in the region could not afford a healthy diet, though this figure improved slightly from 2021. South America led this improvement, while the Caribbean and Mesoamerica faced higher levels of inaccessibility, with nearly half the population unable to afford nutritious food.
PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa called for fiscal policies, public food procurement programs, and regulations to address growing challenges such as overweight and obesity, which are becoming key risk factors for non-communicable diseases.
Building Resilience in Food Systems
Extreme weather events, including storms, floods, droughts, and erratic rainfall, have made it increasingly difficult for families across the region to produce, transport, and access food. The World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Director, Lola Castro, emphasized the need for stronger community and government partnerships to build food systems that can withstand the climate crisis.
Rossana Polastri, IFAD Regional Director, echoed these sentiments, advocating for investments in rural infrastructure, sustainable farming practices, and financial products to support small-scale producers and women.
A Call to Action
The report calls for accelerated investments and policy interventions to mitigate the impacts of climate variability and extreme weather on food security. Collaborative efforts from organizations such as FAO, IFAD, PAHO, WFP, and UNICEF underscore the need to build resilient agrifood systems and prioritize vulnerable populations to ensure sustainable progress.
SOURCE: FAO
