The relation between climate change and food security

Jacklyn Cock discusses climate change and how it deepens the struggle for food security, especially in Africa. She argues that because of its methods of production, capitalism cannot solve the crisis but will only deepen it.

Venezuelan president Hugo Chaves has described the global food system as the greatest demonstration of the historical failure of the capitalist model. It is a system based on profit and one that only profits the corporations that run it. The UN estimates the number of people who suffer from chronic hunger to be over one billion. This number however excludes those suffering from vitamin and nutrient deficiencies and other forms of malnutrition.

Food insecurity in South Africa

Food insecurity simply means beings hungry. The total number of food insecure people who are malnourished or lacking critical nutrients is probably closer to 3 billion- about half of humanity.

This group of insecure people includes increasing numbers of South Africans. At least half of all south Africans live in absolute poverty, and food insecurity is one of the worst aspects of absolute poverty. The Urban food Security Baseline Survey conducted in late 2008 found that food insecurity was high (77%) among the urban poor in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Food insecurity is increasing among South African children. Studies indicate that one in four children under the age of six years stunned due to chronic malnutrition. This means future generations lack the nutrients they need for growth and development. These shocking figures will increase with climate change.

Climate change

Climate change, sometimes referred to as global warming, refers to the increases in the temperatures of the earth’s atmosphere. It also refers to the effects of the temperatures increase on weather patterns. This is caused by burning fossil fuels in the form of coal, gas and oil, which releases carbon dioxide.

Effects of climate change on future food production

Because of climate change, future food production will lack cheap energy, abundant water and a stable climate. The increase in droughts and floods will cut food production in many parts of the world by 50%, in the next 12 years.

The impact will be particularly severe in Africa. The latest Intergovernmental panel on climate change predicts that wheat production will disappear from Africa and that there will be a marked decrease in the amount of maize under cultivation across the continent. Maize and bread are many people’s staple foods in Africa already the price of bread has risen by 66% over the last 3 years. This is partly because we have to import wheat, one of the main ingredients. Wheat prices has increased as a result of flooding in Australia and droughts in Russia. According to a recent release Oxfam report, world food price will double because of climate change. Rising oil prices have another factor which affect food prices. Rising oil prices have led to the shift to agrofuels like ethanol which can be made from both maize and wheat. The production of fuel from crops means that food has to be diverted from feeding people powering cars and equipment.

Climate change will also impact on the price of beer (and maybe even the taste). The production of hops, one of the main ingredients that is grown in the Western Cape, will be affected by expected rainfall decrease of 60% in the Western Cape.

What make this especially bad for South Africa is that there is a crisis of unemployment-now almost 40%. the increasing number of unemployed people depend on social grants or the R60 a day paid by the community work programme, cannot afford to buy good, nutritious food.

Climate change and inequality issues

climate change is deeply political issue in that it reflects relations of power and inequality. While the rich industrialised countries of the North are the biggest generators of carbon emissions, it is the people of the South, particularly in Southern Africa, who will be worst affected. The rich have the resources to protect themselves from the impact of climate change. While water will become scarce, the rich will move to areas with abundant natural resources and water. South Africa has over 80 luxurious so-called ‘golf estates’, and a golf course uses an average of 1 million of water each day.

Mobilising for change

The global leaders have failed to solve the problem of climate change. Global carbon emission rates are increasing and it seems unlikely that the international meeting in Durban in November will produce a binding agreement on reducing emissions.

Civil society has to mobilise if it is to make big changes in the way we produce and consume. The food system must be changed from the present unjust and unsustainable system of industrial agriculture which is dominated by large corporations. We have to demonstrate that the climate change crisis is caused by the capitalist system and that capitalism cannot resolve the issue.