Climate change threatens poorest kids

Changes in rainfall patterns and reduced agricultural yields are some of the effects of climate change that are having a significant impact on the global food system.

A new policy briefing from UNICEF UK, Climate change, food systems and children: a case for greater action, sets out the link between changes in climate and poor nutrition for children in low income countries.

UNICEF UKsaid urgent action is needed by governments to ensure that children do not pay the price with their futures.

The UK Government is being urged to continue to push the EU to move to a target of 30% reduction in emissions by 2020, as well as supporting emerging economies and developing countries to pursue long term low-carbon development paths.

Research by UNICEF Indonesia in 2011 found that six in ten children noted that food became more expensive after too much or too little rain.

Livestock are also affected by the changing climate, both by gradual change and by the sudden impact of natural disasters.

This may have consequences for the availability of meat and dairy products, and for the use of animals in small-scale agriculture.

Rising temperatures and variable precipitation combined with an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters are leading to reduced family income and reduced availability of nutritious food.

UNICEF UK, as part of the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign, is campaigning to end child hunger. Every year two million children die because they can't get enough food to eat. Climate change is a key driver of food insecurity which leads to child hunger.