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Safety nets can help address the risks to nutrition from increasing climate variability
1World Bank, Washington, DC 20433, USA. halderman@worldbank.org
The Journal of Nutrition
|November 20, 2009
Summary
Climate change shocks negatively impact child nutrition, leading to long-term economic consequences. Relief programs can mitigate these effects if rapidly and flexibly implemented.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Nutrition Science
- Development Economics
Background:
- Climate change models predict increased weather variability and agro-ecological shifts.
- These changes present significant challenges for global nutrition and child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence linking climate shocks to nutritional outcomes.
- To estimate the economic consequences of childhood malnutrition resulting from climate shocks.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of longitudinal panel data spanning up to 20 years.
- Review of existing studies on climate shocks, nutrition, and relief program effectiveness.
Main Results:
- Short-term climate shocks have demonstrable long-term impacts on children's health and development.
- These impacts can persist into adulthood, affecting schooling and economic productivity.
Conclusions:
- Relief programs can offset climate shock impacts with flexible financing and rapid response.
- Scalable food distribution, including ready-to-use therapeutic food, is a cost-effective strategy for mitigating malnutrition risks post-shocks.
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