Seven facts about climate change and hunger
Published January 25, 2012 | 
When it comes to protecting the world’s poorest inhabitants from the erratic weather and natural disasters that many scientists expect in coming years, hunger is a key part of the discussion. Here are seven facts that explain why.
1. By 2050, climate change is expected to increase the risk of hunger by 10-20 percent compared to a no-climate change scenario.
2. By 2050 we can expect 24 million more malnourished children as a result of climate change. Almost half of this increase, 10 million children, will be in sub-Saharan Africa.
3. Between 1980 and 2006 the number of climate-related disasters has quadrupled.
4. The number of people affected by climate-related disasters is expected to reach 375 million per year by 2015.
5. In 2010, climate-related extreme events and disasters affected some 300 million people, most often in countries which have little capacity to cope.
6. With climate change, two thirds of the arable land in Africa could be lost by 2025, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
7. By 2030, climate change could push food prices up by 50-90 percent more than they would otherwise be expected to rise, according to a recent report by Oxfam.
If you would like to make a difference and have some fun at the same time, play the online free rice game at freerice.com. Every time you answer a question correctly 10 grains of rice will be donated to hungry people through the World Food Program.
