Week 6 Assignment -

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Dec 6, 2023

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| Professor Gwendolyn Royal Smith THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD SECURITY Week 6 – Assignment 1 August 23, 2023

The Impact of Climate Change on Food Security With the pleasure of being a new consultant at the United Nations, I was tasked with assessing climate change and food security issues from a scientific standpoint. After substantial studying and documenting my findings, I have discovered articles that will expose these life-threatening problems. Global Warming has always been an ongoing issue with no indication of being resolved. As the world’s population reaches 10 billion people by 2050, the disadvantages of global Warming are spreading worldwide. Studies have shown that humans have used more of the Earth’s resources than they can produce for centuries. With the irresponsibility of humans causing disastrous climate change, how can we put effort into decreasing a food shortage? Unfortunately, the impact of climate change on food security is critical, and the consequences are catastrophic. Most governments struggle to properly allocate food resources because the climate influences their economic system. According to research, the more Earth faces extreme climate changes, the more we lose access to food and renewable resources[ CITATION Rupay \l 1033 ]. This can lead to threats to the Earth's biodiversity, causing farming to become challenging. Sadly, the climate crisis is fueling the hunger crisis and thinking longevity; the trend exhibits no sign of going away. Arguably, climate change is natural. However, the advances of human society have caused a threat to food security, and activities such as deforestation, agricultural practices, and burning of fossil fuels are the result of this. In this paper, I will discuss the difference between climate change and global warming and how we must quickly clarify the two. Next, I will explain the catastrophic weather changes and other things such as the rising sea levels, consequences of droughts and wildfires, reduction of 1

The Impact of Climate Change on Food Security agricultural production worldwide, and how much I contribute to these projections. Then, I will explain how the changes in the climate affect people in developing countries. Lastly, I will give my position on the debate on whether governments are mishandling funds for food resources. Climate Change vs. Global Warming While global warming and climate change are often used interchangeably, they have different meanings. They both define the pattern in Earth's climate shift, resulting in the atmosphere's increase in greenhouse gases. When differentiating between global warming and climate change, think of global warming as referring to the rise in global temperature due to the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and climate change as the increase in changes in the climate over a long period of time[CITATION US3 \l 1033 ]. Global Warming is the long-term heating of the Earth’s surface due to human activities, mainly by burning fossil fuels like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane. By doing this, the Earth is holding excessive greenhouse gases, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise. Since the Industrial Revolution, the Earth’s temperature has risen about 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius). Unfortunately, that number is increasing by 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade[CITATION NAS23 \l 1033 ]. While there are specific global warming- related facts, studies define global warming as the continuous heating of the planet, and the result of this heat over time will eventually bring the Earth to an inhabitable boiling point. Climate Change circles around global warming, but it refers to long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns that affect the planet. Researchers at NASA state that climate change includes rising sea levels, shrinking mountain glaciers, accelerating ice melt 2

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The Impact of Climate Change on Food Security in Greenland, Antarctica, and the Arctic, and shifts in nature's blooming time. These changes can be natural due to the evolution of the sun or significant volcanic eruptions. However, since the 1800s, humans have been the primary source of unnatural climate change. It is primarily due to the blanket of gases wrapped around our planet.[CITATION NAS23 \l 1033 ]. Catastrophic Weather Changes, Temperature, and Challenges With the planet’s atmosphere warming at an unprecedented rate, the consequences of this effect are spreading worldwide. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Earth’s temperature was about 13.7°C [CITATION Liz \l 1033 ], but as of 2020, the temperature has risen 0.14 degrees, making the Earth's temperature estimated around 14.9°C. So, how will this destroy our environment? The continuous rise in the earth's temperature will result in catastrophic events such as melting sea ice, intense rainfall, and possible extinction of plant and animal life. [ CITATION Lin23 \l 1033 ]. Consequently, how much credibility do I place in these projections? The year is 2023, and with the earth still heating up at an unprecedented rate, I do not doubt their predictions are accurate. The proof is in the pudding – if destructive weather patterns and world hunger increase, global warming and climate change will likely occur. This is simply because change is subject to happen, especially regarding the earth’s evolution. Since the new millennium, we have witnessed some very extreme weather catastrophes. For instance, in December of 2004, an undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 struck the coast of Indonesia, creating tsunami-like waves that reached up to 100 feet and spread 3

The Impact of Climate Change on Food Security across India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.[ CITATION Cai23 \l 1033 ]. The number of fatalities due to this incident reached over 200,000 people. Climate change poses various challenges to people's food security in the developing world. For instance, in 2022, an article by Michael Ekwe stated that in Nigeria, approximately 25.3 million people would be in danger of acute food security within a few months[ CITATION Mic23 \l 1033 ]. According to the UN, the food insecurity that makes up the county is rising food prices, unpredictable rainfall, and poverty. One of Nigeria's main issues is violence. Groups like Boko Haram terrorists have affected the food trade across Nigeria due to violent acts like kidnapping and armed robbery. North Nigeria has been affected primarily because that is where the bulk of Nigeria’s goods production is. Next is the flooding and unpredictable rainfall. Nigeria relies heavily on farming, and with almost 2/3 of its labor being dependent on agriculture, climate disasters could affect their industry negatively. Unfortunately, in 2022, Nigeria was struck with a flood that killed more than 500 people, displaced approximately 1.4 million, and damaged roughly 90,000 homes. Additionally, the flood destroyed thousands of farmlands, costing crops about $2 billion in damages [ CITATION Mic23 \l 1033 ]. Last is poverty. Nigeria's poverty rate has significantly increased in the past few decades, and the rising rate is making it difficult for people to afford basic needs and nutritious food. The population has grown by the millions, and the number of impoverished people has outweighed the upper and middle classes. Is there proof of financial misuse? 4

The Impact of Climate Change on Food Security As far as evidence indicating that financial assistance is being misused, there is corruption and misuse of aid. However, obtaining the facts or valid evidence surrounding corruption by government officials would be almost impossible. Additionally, the World Bank Sanctions Evaluation and Suspension Office has a track record of undiscovered evidence of fraud and corruption. Between 2017 and 2022, 157 contracts were found to be sanctionable fraud or corruption. Furthermore, some US officials state that corruption in financial aid is the primary reason to stop giving funds to the developing world [ CITATION Cha17 \l 1033 ]. Sadly, no concrete evidence shows any form of corruption or misuse of financial assistance to developing countries. Supporters like USAID are centered around cracking down on corruption, and for the last 20 years, every dollar has been adequately allocated [ CITATION Mal17 \l 1033 ]. Climate change has led to several disastrous events in the world. However, food shortage is on top of the list, and combating climate change can be arduous, so is human action enough to address the issue? Unfortunately, no. However, several measures, such as recycling more, driving less, or adjusting your thermostat, will account for some effort in changing the environment. Now that I have explained the difference between climate change and global warming and why it is so easily confused. Then, I presented my perspective on credibility and why I believe it to be factual. Next, discuss how food security in developing worlds would be affected by climate change. Lastly, the debate was about whether higher-up government officials misused financial aid support for 5

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The Impact of Climate Change on Food Security developing nations. Moreover, as I stated, corruption cannot be physically found. However, that does not mean there is not any going on. 6

The Impact of Climate Change on Food Security Work Cited Ekwe, M. (2023, June 6). A deadly duo: Climate change and conflict are fuelling Nigeria’s food insecurity crisis . Retrieved from The Conversation : https://theconversation.com/a-deadly- duo-climate-change-and-conflict-are-fuelling-nigerias-food-insecurity-crisis- 206042#:~:text=Analysis%20from%20the%20World%20Weather,rains%20that %20caused%20the%20flooding.&text=The%20floods%20destroyed%20thousands%20of Gharib, M. (2017, August 4 ). Is Corruption Really A Big Problem in Foreign Aid . Retrieved from Goats and Soda : https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/08/04/539285319/is- corruption-really-a-big-problem-in-foreign-aid Johnson, C. (2023). 10 Worst Natural Disasters of the 2000s . Retrieved from WatchMojo: https://www.watchmojo.com/articles/10-worst-natural-disasters-of-the-2000s Kenny, C. (2017, January 23 ). How Much Aid Is Really Lost to Corruption? . Retrieved from Center for Global Development : https://www.cgdev.org/blog/how-much-aid-really-lost-corruption Lindsey, R., & Dahlman, L. (2023, January 18). Climate Change: Global Temperature . Retrieved from Understanding Climate : https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding- climate/climate-change-global-temperature Mukerji, R. (May , 23 2022 ). How Climate Change Increases Hunger (and why we're all at risk) . Retrieved from Concern Worldwide US : https://concernusa.org/news/climate-change-and- hunger/#:~:text=The%20more%20climate%20changes%20and,%2D%20and%20middle %2Dincome%20countries. NASA'S Jet Propulsion Laboratory - California Institute of Technology. (2023, July 26). What is Climate Change . Retrieved from Global Climate Change - Vital Signs of the Planet: https://climate.nasa.gov/what-is-climate-change/ Osborn, L. (2021). History of Changes in the Earth's Temperature . Retrieved from Current Results - Weather and Science Facts: https://www.currentresults.com/Environment-Facts/changes- in-earth-temperature.php U.S. Department of the Interior . (n.d.). What is the difference between global warming and climate change? Retrieved from USGS Science for a Changing World: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-difference-between-global-warming-and-climate- change#:~:text=“Global%20warming”%20refers%20to%20the,%2C%20temperature%2C %20and%20wind%20patterns. 7

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