The Climate Change Collective is an initiative where the blogging community unites behind a common goal. The latest post in the series is from Caroline at Enviroline Blog, who looks at the connection between climate change and food insecurity.
Climate change and food insecurity
Over the last year or two, rising food prices have been making headlines around the world. Even in rich countries like Canada, many are struggling to put food on the table. A report from Food Banks Canada indicates close to 2 million visits to food banks in March of 2023. That’s an increase of 32% over March of 2022, and 78.5% compared to March of 2019.
As with any crisis, the tendency is to point the finger of blame. In Canada, the big supermarket chains have come under fire as the cause of higher prices, and pressure is on the government to “do something”. While the supermarkets do have a role to play, I think we need to look beyond the obvious and recognize the role climate change plays in food insecurity here at home and around the world.
This year has been the worst wildfire season on record in Canada. While much of the west suffered searing temperatures and severe drought, the east coast saw record rainfalls and flooding. Add to that the Ontario government’s attempt to open up parts of the Greenbelt—an area of rich agricultural land—for housing, and it’s not hard to see how we will all be impacted by food insecurity in the near future. It is no longer just an issue for poor and developing countries.
Please take a few minutes to read Caroline’s post. You’ll find out why food insecurity is a growing concern, how climate change is making a bad situation worse, and what you can do to help.
The lack of food is likely to increase the prices which have already increased lately! Hunger and increased prices cause conflict which leads to even more issues. So, we need to make some changes to try and reduce these impacts of food insecurity.
Caroline, Enviroline Blog
The impact climate change has on food security and how to help
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About the Climate Change Collective
The Climate Change Collective was born out of an exchange that took place when I left a comment on a blog post by Jamie Ad Stories. Jamie and I wanted to find a way to keep the climate change message top of mind for everyone, so I put out a tweet to see what kind of interest there would be in a climate-change-related blogging collaboration. The Climate Change Collective was born!
The members of the collective take turns writing a monthly blog post sharing their unique perspective about climate change. After the post is published, the rest of the group keeps the conversation going by sharing a link to the post on their blogs along with their thoughts and ideas.
If you’re a like-minded blogger and would like to join our collective, please get in touch. More voices joining the conversation means more attention to the problems plaguing our planet!
More Climate Change Collective posts
If you missed any of the other posts in the series, here they are:
- How climate change impacts your health…and your wallet
- Understanding how climate action redefines our future – Molly, Transatlantic Notes
- Travel with climate change – Jamie, JamieAdStories
- How climate change impacts animals – Caroline, Enviroline Blog
- How our need to shop is ruining our planet – A Sustainably Simple Life
- Residential solar panels: 2022 year in review– A Sustainably Simple Life
- How you can reduce your energy consumption and save money by saving the planet – Crisbie Coach
- 6 ways to reduce the environmental cost of experiences
- Returning to past habits – Smelly Socks And Garden Peas
- How green spaces help our planet A Sustainably Simple Life
- The benefits of active travel – Could it save you and the planet? – Midlife on Earth
- A Greener World – Debunking Myths About Climate Change – Molly, Transatlantic Notes
- Microforests – A tiny idea with big potential
- The impact climate change has on food security and how to help – Caroline, Enviroline Blog
- Reconnecting with nature and self by disconnecting from the world – A Sustainably Simple Life
- Wrapping Up Doesn’t Have to Be a Waste – Jamie, JamieAdStories
- It’s cold outside – The difference between weather and climate
- Our climate action does not need to be perfect – Molly, Transatlantic Notes
- How climate change in the Arctic affects us all
Thanks to Caroline for being part of our Climate Change Collective and for educating us on the scope of food insecurity around the world.
What more can we do to improve food security? Tell me your thoughts below.
Excellent post, she pointed out so many factors that I wish all the politicians would read it!
I agree 💯, Cristiana! It’s so frustrating.
Building on green belt land has started to rear its head again here. Sadly towns seem to be merging and farm land is being reduced, if not flooded, regularly. Great post!
Thanks Jamie. I could ALMOST have accepted opening up part of the Ontario green belt if the plan was to build housing people could afford. Of course that wasn’t the case. It was a great example of politicians colluding with rich business people. Thankfully, the people spoke loud and clear and the government backed down. But we must remain vigilant.
Seeing those numbers for the increased use of foodbanks is shocking. I totally agree with you that, while the grocery store chains need to be held accountable, there needs to be attention paid to the larger issues. There was farmland local to us that was slated to be turned into an industrial park and people had to rally to explain why farmland is more necessary. It shouldn’t have to be that way!
I agree! I was so happy the people in Ontario gave a resounding NO to Premier Ford’s plan to open up the green belt. That gave me hope that people get it. Economic growth is important but it needs to be thoughtful and managed appropriately.
👋 Excellent post 💖
I hope you have a great and blessed day 🌈
A cordial greeting 👋🇪🇸
David López Moncada.
TOGETHER WE GROW if we exchange
pk 🌎 pkMUNDO pkWORLD
Thank you for dropping by and reading! Have a great day.
Thank you, Michelle. You do such a good job of shining a bright beacon of light on what matters most. 💕
Thank you so much Vicki! 🤗
🥰
There is a local food bank near where I live, and they have mentioned that more and more people are making use of it and that supplies that would normally last a bit longer are needing to be replenished. As more food items become harder to get a hold of because of climate change, things will get more expensive and become unmanageable for so many people. Caroline’s article was a great reminder to make some changes to help out.
It is sad that so many people are struggling to put food on the table. It’s an important reminder that we should help if we are able.