The SDG 2 consists of ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture. However, it should be noted that the SDGs impact each other – they are intertwined. For example, by eradicating poverty (SDG 1), people will have a better income to acquire food to nourish themselves (SDG 2); by ending hunger (SDG 2), health, well-being, and quality of life will be ensured (SGD 3); and by implementing more sustainable agricultural practices (SDG 2), food production and security can be accomplished while taking action against climate change (SDG 13). Therefore, when one is improved, progress is also made in others.

Affected by poverty, climate change, man-made conflicts, locust crisis, and now the COVID-19 pandemic, the hunger issue continues to worsen and is unlikely to meet the 2030 SDG deadline. However, progress to reach the SDG 2 was already slow before the pandemic, as the population that suffered from moderate or severe food insecurity rose from 23.2% in 2014 to 26.2% in 2018 [4]. In this context, 60% of people who suffer from hunger are women [5], due to gender inequalities (SDG 5), which, consequently, affect their children’s physical and mental development. In 2019, it is accounted that 21.3% of children under 5 years old are stunted, and 6.9% are affected by wasting [2], while a child dies every 10 seconds due to undernourishment [3].

At the same time, estimates show that enough food is produced to feed everyone in the planet [8]. Why then do we have this problem? While poverty limits people’s ability to buy their own food, a primary problem lies in food waste. Every year, 1/3 of the world’s food is lost or wasted [9] – to put this in perspective, this number equates to 1.3 billion tons of food that could be consumed [3]. In Latin America, the amount of food that is wasted or lost could feed 300 million people; the food wasted in Europe could feed a total of 200 million people; while in Africa, the food that is lost could feed 300 million people [10]. This lost or wasted food could feed the 800 million people that suffer from hunger and undernourishment [3].

In order to meet the food security goal, four dimensions – defined by the FAO at the World Food Summit in 1996 – should be fulfilled. These include: availability, access, utilization, and stability [7]. Availability relates to the food production and supply, stock levels, and net trade. Access incorporates the economic and social side regarding policies focused on incomes, markets, and prices. Utilization refers to the adequate nutritional and energetic intake necessary for the well-being and health of the individuals. Stability concerns the maintenance of the other three dimensions over time, on a periodic basis, enabling good nutritional status [7].

Around 9% of the world’s population suffer from hunger [6]. It could be considered the world’s biggest health problem, as millions die from hunger and undernourishment every year – in greater numbers than from malaria, tuberculosis and HIV combined [11]. Much has to be done: Restructuring food systems, improving productivity while decreasing losses and waste, ensuring accessibility, promoting social protection programmes, giving immediate aid to vulnerable populations, and supporting smallholder farmers’ ability to increase food production with more sustainable agricultural practices. On the individual level, we can limit our food waste (THINK-EAT-SAVE), donate to people in need, support local producers, and have a vision of solidarity and cooperativeness.

In light of the SDG 2, the United Nations World Food Programme developed the project Share the Meal which functions as a crowdfunding where you can donate $0.80 directly from your phone by using their app [12]. This project was launched in 2015, and the donations were able to help people that suffer from food crisis in different places of the world. Watch the video below to understand how it works and how you can help.

References:

[1] The World Counts – World Population

[2] Google COVID-19 info

[3] The World Counts – People and Poverty

[4] SDG 2

[5] Mercy Corps

[6] FAO The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World

[7] An Introduction to the Basic Concepts of Food Security

[8] World Hunger

[9] FAO – Food Loss and Food Waste

[10] UN Environment Programme

[11] United Nations – Losing 25,000 to Hunger everyday

[12] World Food Programme – Share the Meal

The post The SDGs Series (Goal 2): Zero Hunger appeared first on Global Change Ecology.

Revisiting the concept of sustainability, which implies that EVERYONE’s needs should be met, makes one understand why in 2002 in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation the first SDG was described as “the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development”. For universal sustainability, the well-being of humans, biodiversity and the planet as a whole should be ensured. Figure 1 below presents the progress that has been accomplished in regards to people living in extreme poverty. From year 1981 to 2015, there is a decline from 42.12% to 9.94% in the number of individuals living on less than $1.90 per day. At this very moment, there are still 8.4% of world’s population living in such conditions (UN, 2020), a percentage that accounts for over 700 million people.

Poverty is a complex problem that is influenced by different elements, and when taking all these other aspects into account – besides the “International Poverty Line” threshold – the situation can even worsen. According to the United Nations Human Development report on “The 2020 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)”, currently, in 107 developing countries, 22% of their inhabitants live in multidimensional poverty. This means that there are 1.3 billion people in the world who are deprived from any of those three important life dimensions: health, education or standard living. The MPI is calculated based on a set of 10 indicators framed within the three aforementioned dimensions (You can check the table here). It emerges as a useful tool to monitor poverty and the progress for the achievement of the SDG1.

Another interesting tool to track the progress towards the “end of poverty in all of its forms everywhere” is the World Poverty Clock. The World Poverty Clock comprises a peer-review model with a dataset updated by November of 2020, that already considers the effects of the covid-19 pandemic on poverty. One of the highlights of this model is the free access to the tool on the website aforementioned. Anyone can do their own analysis, verify through graphs or maps which countries are on-track or off-track to meet the SDG1 by 2030 (Figure 2) and what are the numbers of individuals in poverty every year. It is also possible to make a comparison about the reality of each country, filter by gender and age, and soon there will be a geographical filter (rural and urban).

In 2030, the year when the SDGs are supposed to be met, the model presents that there will be still 565 million people living in extreme poverty. Sadly, this result is not so surprising. Prior to 2020, many countries were already off-track to achieve the SDG1 by 2030. However, the covid-19 pandemic has intensified the scarcities and hardships faced by millions across the world and has made it harder for people to try to escape poverty. As it is shown on Figure 3, after the pandemic millions of people were pushed back to poverty. More specifically, the UN statistical report (2020) estimates that the covid-19 pandemic will lead 71 million people into extreme poverty. Furthermore, covid-19 joins other ailments that often affect humans living in vulnerability, such as malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia. These are in some cases preventable, stemming from malnutrition, contaminated water and lack of hygiene and sanitation. According to the 2017 Unicef report on Child Mortality, one in thirty-six children dies in the first month due to preventable diseases in least developed countries. As we all know by now, washing our hands has a significant positive impact in our health; still, not everyone has access to clean water in this world, nor live in appropriate conditions.

Being in a place of vulnerability, individuals living in poverty are marginalized within the society and end up building their households in locations that are unsafe, making them more exposed to natural hazards. As climate change drives up the frequency of extreme events, droughts, floods, hurricanes and wildfires, it threatens people’s lives, their housing, and economic support. In developing countries, many marginalized communities live in unsteady structures, and rely on agriculture for their income and also for subsistence. It has been reported an economic loss measured up to $23.6 billions due to natural disasters; from those, 73% were in the agricultural sector and 16% in the housing sector (UN Stats, 2020). Climate change affects all social and economic sectors that structure this world’s way of living.

To end poverty in all of its forms everywhere is one goal, but it is not only related to one’s income or consumption power. Poverty is a humans’ rights issue, a health, an educational, and a climate matter. When one SDG is improved, several others are as well. It is a chain reaction! Interconnectivity is the key word to bring solution. More union between the nations, better governance and political willingness to aid and support local communities and vulnerable individuals is necessary. Enhancing economic growth in the least developing countries should be a target, as well as increasing accessibility to education, health and sanitation. As climate change and the pandemic aggravate the scenario for poverty, we should stand as one world and one people to turn these issues around, to help improve the current situation and mitigate damages. There are 17 SDGs, poverty eradication is the first – but there really is only one objective, and that is a better world to everyone from all the nations.

References:

Cuaresma, J.P. et al. (2018) – “Will the Sustainable Development Goals be fulfilled? Assessing present and future global poverty”. OpenAccess.

Max Roser and Esteban Ortiz-Ospina (2013) – “Global Extreme Poverty”. Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: ‘https://ourworldindata.org/extreme-poverty’

Reports:

Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, Report of the Secretary-General

SDG, United Nations 2020 – “Goal 1”

The 2020 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

The post The SDGs Series (Goal 1): End poverty in all of its forms everywhere appeared first on Global Change Ecology.

Could you please take a minute to reflect on what you think this might mean?

Did you? Good!

I am sure you came up with a great thought! Still, I would like to share with you my perspective.

Planet Earth represents the all and you are the one! Well … Not just you. You, me and every living being consists – individually – in one element in this huge planet. In this context, the cycle of life goes on and never stops. As seasons change, each component experiences life, death and life again. Every unit is transformed but is still part of the all. In the all, we are connected and we come together as one!

Does that make sense to you?

As one, we – the entire world – are currently facing a pandemic, and this is not breaking news, I know! Nevertheless, we have been called attention to open our eyes to our planet, our home, to our neighbours, colleagues and everyone, regardless if we are acquainted with them or not. This moment, nature, in the verge of a tipping point, calls us out to stop and open our eyes to all the damage humans – us – have been causing in this world.

It has not been easy. Ever! Climate change, deforestation, pollution, extinction, consumerism, disturbance of natural cycles and processes. Poverty, hunger, gender inequality, discrimination, no access to health nor education and so many other issues! We debate, we disagree, we don’t believe. But the fact is that it is difficult to endure and mitigate certain situations as ONE, as people from different backgrounds (geographical, economic, social) live contrasting realities and face distinctive hardships.

It is impactful to me how this 2020 Coronavirus pandemic is practically making the world stop. However, this should not shock me as much considering that this is not the first pandemic that the world has ever faced. In the history of pandemics^[1], the one that caused more deaths is the Bubonic Plague, also known as the Black Death. This records the 14^th century and it was a disease originated in rats and had fleas as vectors to humans. It is estimated that half of the European population died during this period.

The second greatest pandemic is Smallpox in 1520, that killed approximately 90% of Native Americans, and registered a number of around 400.000 dead people annually in Europe in the 19^th century. That was when the first vaccine for Smallpox was created. Don’t be alarmed! I am not trying to scare you!

Amongst many other pandemics, more recent ones, that always pop up in our minds – now thinking about the Coronavirus – are the Swine Flu and the Ebola. Let’s not forget that HIV/AIDS was also considered as a pandemic! And even though there is not a cure yet, there are medicines to treat and effective ways of prevention.

Still, somehow, the COVID-19 pandemic feels different. And some reasons are: it is a new virus, scientists and researchers are still understanding and learning about this new form; and, it is a current outbreak which increases every minute. Moreover, today, we live in a 24/7 online world, and as news travel as rapid as ever before, so does fear … But, so does hope!

Just like the union that has been rising to change this situation, we as individuals can grow stronger, selfless, caring and active! In this moment, when we experience this necessary quarantine, we have the opportunity to reflect on how our actions have been impacting our planet. We have the chance to understand that we are a part of one universe and, although we may feel small, we can shape the world around us. As environmental leaders and advocates, we can promote more dialogues and discussions to raise awareness and solutions about Earth’s urgent agenda! And I know you have already been doing this and that you try every day!

But as all of us, inhabitants of the Earth, take a step back to deal with this new virus, let’s take this time of union and connectedness to glimpse together the rise of a new dawn! There is hope of a turn in events when everybody engages to reach the goal that benefits the ONE (planet). We should stand together as every fight is a fight of ALL of us, to protect our home and ensure the existence and resources for the sake of the environment, ourselves and future generations. We can do this! Because now is ALL FOR ONE!

Reference:

Pandemics^[1] https://www.visualcapitalist.com/history-of-pandemics-deadliest/

The post One is all and all is one: How a global pandemic can change our perspective of being appeared first on Global Change Ecology.