Event hosted at the African Pavilion, Durban, COP17. This event was co-organized by Public Health Institute, the World Food Programme, UN Standing Committee on Nutrition and Action Against Hunger with the support of the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Bank

Why nutrition and health?

Climate change has an impact on the nutrition security and health of millions of people, particularly poor women and children. The current crisis in the Horn of Africa and famine in Somalia is the result of one of the most severe droughts in 60 years and this can get worse since extreme weather events are getting more frequent and intense as a result of climate change. 

Protection and promotion of nutrition security and health are essential components of climate-resilient and sustainable development. Despite this, nutrition has been largely absent in the climate agenda. In fact this is the only event among more than 200 events at the COP17 that focuses on nutrition.

Along with numerous partners and health sector stakeholders participating in COP17, Public Health Institute has been pushing hard to raise the visibility of the health issues connected to climate change. As we’ve reported here, particular areas of focus have been nutrition and food security, the impact of climate change on women and children around the world, and the potential that women’s leadership could have to create healthier, climate-resilient communities.