11 Dec A emerging twin crisis: Food insecurity and Energy poverty
SYLLABUS MAPPING:
GS-3- Indian Economy- Food insecurity and Energy poverty
FOR PRELIMS:
Various nations and international initiatives for energy transition and food security
FOR MAINS:
What are the reasons for Food insecurity and Energy poverty, and how they are interconnected with each other.
Why in the news?
The world is battling a perfect storm of climate, conflict, economic and natural crises that are exacerbating inequality and pushing more people into poverty. We need all shoulders at the wheel to ensure our planet remains livable for everyone.
Key Facts About Global Food Insecurity:
Number of People Affected: In 2023, 2.33 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity, a 45% increase since 2015.
Most Affected Countries: Nations with the largest food crises in 2023 include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Yemen, Syria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar.
Economic Access to Healthy Diets: Over 2.8 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2022, with 71.5% in low-income countries compared to 6.3% in high-income nations.
Key Facts About Energy Access and Poverty:
Energy Poverty: At least 1.18 billion people are energy-poor, unable to access or afford electricity, according to the UNDP.
Access to Electricity: In 2022, 685 million people lacked electricity due to the energy crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the first increase in over a decade. By 2023, this number declined to 750 million but remained below pre-pandemic progress levels.
Developing countries most affected: 750 million people lacked access to electricity in 2023, primarily in developing nations. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for about 80% of the global population without electricity. South Asia also has significant gaps in rural areas.
Access to Clean Cooking: Up to 2.1 billion people still rely on polluting cooking fuels and technologies, causing 3.2 million premature deaths annually. Achieving universal access by 2030 remains off track. Up to 2.1 billion people rely on polluting fuels such as wood, charcoal, and animal dung. This is most prevalent in low-income households in Africa, South Asia, and parts of Southeast Asia.
Energy Sector Gender Gap: The energy sector remains male-dominated, with women earning wages significantly lower than men. The wage gap in this sector is more than twice as large as in non-energy industries.
Reason of food insecurity:
1. Climate Change: Climate change is reducing crop yields, with some regions facing decreases of up to 10% by 2050. Extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, are increasingly damaging agriculture, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where food production is highly vulnerable.
2. Pollution and Environmental Degradation: 33% of global soil is degraded, harming crop productivity. Water contamination, particularly in South Asia, affects irrigation, further limiting food supply and exacerbating hunger.
3. Population Growth: The global population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, driving up food demand. Sub-Saharan Africa faces a 50% increase in food insecurity by 2030 due to rapid population growth and environmental pressures.
4. Economic Inequality: In 2022, 2.8 billion people couldn’t afford a healthy diet, with 71.5% of them in low-income countries. High poverty rates limit access to nutritious food, especially in regions like Africa and South Asia.
5. High Cost of Production and Declining Productivity: Global food prices spiked by 40-50% in 2022 due to rising costs of fertilizers, fuel, and labour. Agricultural productivity is declining in many developing countries due to soil degradation, limited resources, and climate change.
Reason of Energy Poverty:
1. Geopolitical Tensions: Conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, disrupt global energy supplies, raising prices and limiting access to affordable energy, especially in developing nations.
2. Outdated Infrastructure: Many regions, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, have ageing energy systems that can’t meet growing demand. Over 1.18 billion people lack access to electricity due to this issue.
3. Slow Transition from Fossil Fuels: The shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is slow, with many developing countries still relying on coal and oil, which increases energy insecurity and environmental risks.
4. Inequal Accessibility: 750 million people lack electricity, mainly in rural areas of developing countries, where energy infrastructure is scarce and expensive to build.
5. Selective Action by Developed Countries: Wealthy nations often focus on their own energy needs while providing limited support for developing countries to transition to clean energy, worsening global energy inequality.
Interconnectedness of energy and food:
1. 70% of Freshwater Usage by Agriculture: Agriculture uses 70% of global freshwater, much of which is needed for irrigation. Energy is required to pump and transport this water, linking energy access directly to food production.
2. 20% of Global Carbon Emissions from Agriculture: Agriculture is responsible for 20% of global carbon emissions, mainly from land-use changes, livestock, and fertilizers. This contributes to climate change, which impacts both food production and energy systems.
3. Carbon-Intensive Food Production: Many food production processes, such as meat and dairy farming, are carbon-intensive, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. This affects food security by increasing environmental pressures that disrupt both food systems and energy availability.
4. Extreme Weather Events Impacting Food and Energy: Climate change-induced extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, affect both food production and energy infrastructure, disrupting supply chains and increasing the cost of both energy and food.
5. Natural Gas for Ammonia-Based Fertilizers: 80% of ammonia fertilizers are produced using natural gas. Volatility in gas prices directly impacts the cost of fertilizers, making food production more expensive and reducing food security, particularly in regions reliant on imports.
6. Agriculture and Biofuel Crops: The use of biofuel crops for energy production competes with food crops for land and resources, driving up food prices and reducing the availability of arable land for food production, further threatening food security.
Way forward:
Need for Inclusivity: Solutions must ensure equal access to energy and food, prioritizing marginalized communities and reducing inequalities.
Clean Energy Transition: Transitioning to renewable energy is key for sustainability, reducing emissions, and supporting both food and energy security.
Investing in Sustainable Agriculture: Promote climate-resilient farming practices and water-efficient techniques to boost food production while protecting the environment.
Technological Innovation: Use technology to improve energy efficiency and optimize agricultural practices, reducing waste and increasing productivity.
Global Collaboration and Policy Alignment: Align policies globally to address food and energy challenges, focusing on international cooperation to meet sustainable development goals.
Conclusion
The global crises of food insecurity and energy poverty are deeply interconnected, driven by climate change, conflict, and economic inequality. With billions affected, urgent action is needed to ensure sustainable and equitable access to both food and energy. Key solutions include promoting inclusivity, transitioning to clean energy, investing in sustainable agriculture, embracing technological innovation, and aligning global policies. These steps will help build resilient, integrated systems for a more secure and sustainable future for all.
Download Plutus IAS Current Affairs (ENG) 11th Dec 2024
Prelims Question:
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. Climate change is one of the key drivers of global food insecurity, causing unpredictable weather patterns and reducing crop yields.
2. Over 2.8 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2022, with the majority living in low-income countries.
3. The energy crisis has led to a significant increase in global access to electricity in the past decade.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None
Answer: A
Mains Question:
Q. In light of the current global food insecurity and energy poverty crisis, discuss the interconnectedness between food security and energy access, and propose a way forward to address these challenges.”
(250 words, 15 marks)
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