With extreme changes in temperature, the impact of climate change on our planet and on our lives can’t go unnoticed. World hunger is on the rise and the leading causes are: climate variability and extremes. Unpredictable and harsh conditions are making it harder to produce the food we need for a growing population but we are still in time to act! We need to tackle climate change so everyone, everywhere can have access to enough nutritious and safe food. This is where every individual has the power to make a difference.
Here are 5 climate actions YOU can take to contribute to ending hunger in a changing climate:
1. Adopt a more sustainable and diverse diet
Once a week, try eating an all-veggie meal (including pulses like lentils, beans, peas and chickpeas) instead of a meat one. More natural resources are used to produce meat, especially water. Millions of acres of rainforest are also slashed and burned to turn land into grass pastures for livestock. While diversifying your diet you might discover ‘ancient’ grains like quinoa. For example, there are over 200 varieties of quinoa, all suited to diverse climates!
2. Reduce your food waste
Every year we are wasting a third of all the food we produce. This means we are also wasting the resources (such as water, labour, transport) that went into producing it! When shopping, buy only what you need by making a shopping list and creating meal plans to avoid those impulse buys. It can’t be left unsaid that we need to take care in loving our leftovers too. They could easily be thrown in the bin but why not freeze them for later, or use them as an ingredient in another meal? Also, understand your food labelling as there is a big difference between “best before” and “use by” dates. Lastly, show some love to the ‘ugly’ fruits and vegetables out there that might otherwise be wasted just because they are not perfect on the outside. Don’t be fooled, they taste just as good!
