Exploring the dynamic linkages among human health, climate change, and food insecurity in the top twenty emitters

ABSTRACT

Climate change presents the most significant health challenge of the twenty-first century, exerting substantial impacts on human health and food security. The comprehensive examination of the interconnections among human health (HH), climate change (CC), food insecurity (FINS), and the COVID-19 pandemic within the top twenty emitters constitutes an imperative scholarly endeavor that has yet to be undertaken. Understanding these dynamic linkages is imperative to inform policy decisions that could mitigate risks of climate-related health and food crises. This study analyzed the data from 2000 to 2019 for the top twenty emitters by using the Dynamic Panel-Data Two-Step System Generalized Method of Moment Instrumental Variables (Two-Step System GMM-IV) model. The results indicate that (i) HH is affected by CC, particularly regarding deaths caused by communicable diseases, prenatal and maternal health issues, and nutritional conditions. However, the impact is negligible on deaths caused by noncommunicable diseases, such as injuries, cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus; (ii) CO₂ emissions (CO₂e) are contributing to CC, notably affecting the quantity of rainfall; (iii) CC poses a threat to FINS; and (iv) the COVID-19 pandemic is increasing FINS in the selected countries. Based on the results, policies are recommended for incorporation into global and national planning to reduce weather-related mortality, improve food security and environmental conditions, and promote economic growth.

KEYWORDS:

• Human health
• climate change
• food insecurity
• COVID-19
• top twenty emitters

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Availability of data and materials

Data will be made available on request.

Notes

1. Despite the availability of FINS data utilizing the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) provided by the FAO statistics, this study opted not to utilize it due to its availability spanning from 2014 to 2019/2020, with some years missing within this range and the data being unavailable for some of the sampled countries.