In 2023 and 2024, one of the focus areas of discussions within the Netherlands Working Group on international Nutrition (NWGN) platform was the nexus between climate change and sustainable healthy diets with a focus on animal-sourced foods (ASFs), reflecting the protein transition discussion in the Netherlands, while realising that this transition to a more plant-based protein diet might not be appropriate for the contexts in Low Middle Income Countries (LMIC)s.
With this position paper the NWGN, and Clim-Eat (a think-and-do tank that aims to accelerate food systems transformation under climate change) aim to stimulate dialogue on the consumption of ASFs in LMICs within the Dutch government at large, within the ministries and embassies as well as among our members and partners. The aim is that these dialogues will translate into policies and programmes, diplomacy and facilitation and will enable partners in the Netherlands and LMICs to take a stand that addresses the nutritional needs of vulnerable people while also considering climate change.
A diverse diet is important for health and well-being, contributing to lower malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiency diseases (hidden hunger), as well as underweight, overweight, and associated ill health like low immune system function and non-communicable diseases. It is highlighted under Rwanda’s draft Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation (PSTA-5) (2024 to 2030).
Environmental factors impact human health and nutrition through various pathways, and these impacts can be felt disproportionately by already vulnerable groups like women and children.
Climate change is a threat to the sustainability of global and national food systems. Unsustainable food systems cannot ensure food and nutrition security or healthy eating patterns. Climate change is already altering agricultural production, food processing, distribution, and conSumption. Its impacts disrupt food supply, limiting people’s access to the diverse, safe, and nutritious foods that make up high-quality diets.
Environmental factors impact human health and nutrition through various pathways, and these impacts can be felt disproportionately by already vulnerable groups like women and children.
But how do we assess current levels of integration and opportunities to strengthen it? That is where this baseline report comes in. It assesses integration and identifies opportunities to act jointly. The bad news in its results is that in general, climate and nutrition are not well connected.
GAIN’s Environment Screening Tool represents a key step towards systematically incorporating environmental considerations into GAIN’s programmes. It is designed to enable a rapid self-assessment, which identifies environment-related risk factors, prompts mitigation actions, and encourages teams to explore opportunities for environment-nutrition win-wins.
Climate change impacts and risks are becoming increasingly complex and more difficult to manage. Simultaneously, the world is facing the complex challenges of hunger and multiple forms of malnutrition.
In line with our Environment Strategy, we aim to do the following at COP27 - Highlight the need for coordinated and integrated action on climate and nutrition to prevent disastrous increases in food insecurity and malnutrition resulting from climate change
When funds are needed to support your organisation - either as an MSME or NGO - a clear, structured and effective approach is necessary. The goal of this guide is to help actors involved in securing funding to understand the process and to access tools that can be used during the different stages to secure funding.
