Health Articles

by Tharien van Eck, Health Team Co-Chair, AWC Antwerp

The change of the Target Project theme from health to environment necessitates a look at the impact of environmental changes on health. The impact is vast – potentially devastating in many parts of the world. Droughts, flooding, heat waves, water pollution (seas, groundwater and rivers) and air pollution all have outcomes that need to be addressed.  

The impact includes increased respiratory and cardiovascular disease, injuries and premature deaths due to extreme weather events, more food- and water-borne illnesses and other infectious diseases, and threats to mental health.¹ The CDC prepared a detailed document, entitled “A summary of health effects, resources, and adaptation examples from health departments funded by CDC’s Climate and Health Program,” addressing the impact across the USA.² 

The topic area is huge; the Health Team plans to address various topic areas over the next year. The first article looks at the problem of environmental change and its relation to food security and hunger at a global level. We will, in upcoming articles, focus on various other topics linking environmental change and the impact on health.

Food security — the reliable access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food — is inextricably linked to a predictable climate and healthy ecosystems.³

It is fitting that we address the impact on  food supply in view of Awesome Blossoms being chosen as the next Target Project. The production of food globally is impacted by numerous factors, including climate change, biodiversity loss caused by agricultural land expansion and overexploitation of natural resources, both on land and in the oceans. An example: warmer temperatures and increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can stimulate plant growth, but they also contribute to droughts and floods, which will reduce the supply. 

Sadly, we have to acknowledge that the world is not on track to achieve Zero Hunger (SDG 2) by 2030,⁴ and the world population will suffer increasingly from poor nourishment. It was estimated that 750 million people experienced food insecurity in 2019, resulting in poor nourishment.⁵ You can see the prevalence of undernourishment in this interactive map. Conflict is a significant driver in hunger; it is estimated that 70% of the world’s hungry people live in areas of war and conflict.⁶ The World Food Program stated in an article published June 2022 that the war in Ukraine was driving the global food crisis.⁷

The impact of an inadequate or interrupted food supply on the human population is vast: in the short term – the development of fatigue and the inability to work productively, resulting in psychological stress – to the long term – the development of infectious diseases, poor oral health, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, chronic illness (cardiovascular disease, arthritis, etc.), depression and psychological issues. 

Food insecurity is more significant in lower income groups,⁸ thus adding to an already wide range of other problems beyond nutrition. Did you know that it does not affect everyone equally? Young children, older people, people of color and indigenous people often face hunger at much higher rates.⁹ 

Do you know what the situation is in your country or city? A recent report indicated that one in five children in Belgium goes to school hungry!¹⁰  

I am aware that I have barely scratched the surface of this topic. It is a very complex issue, the more I researched, the more concerned I became. Please look at the literature and become informed. What we eat, and how we eat, is becoming more important than ever before! Hunger is toxic. Just filling a stomach is not good enough; we need to ensure that it is filled with nutritious food.