Climate change and food security in selected Sub-Saharan African Countries

Abstract

This study examined the nexus between climate change and food security in Sub-Saharan African Region (SSA). With focus on 30 countries within the region, the study employed the dynamic panel data analysis using the one-step and two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) model. The time observed spanned from 2000 through 2019. The study found that increase in greenhouse gas emission would lead to an increase in prevalence of malnourishment rate, resulting in a decrease in food security in SSA. In addition, climate change and food price have a negative significant effect on food security, while income and food supply have a positive significant impact on food security in SSA. The findings also revealed that the decline in carbon emission is expected to boost agricultural supply and productivity, reduce the prevalence of malnourishment rate and promote food security. Thus, the study recommends that SSA region should be more deliberate about meeting its targets towards achieving zero net emission. Furthermore, the region should improve its domestic food production capacity by implementing policies that will support improvement in agricultural production in the region.

Keywords: Climate change; Food security; Greenhouse gas emission; Income; Sub-Saharan Africa.

Fig. 1

Graphical Illustration of the Impact of Climate Change on Food Security Using the Concept of Demand, Supply and Utility Theories. Source: Drawn by the author(s) with the aid of Microsoft Word

Fig. 2

Average Greenhouse gas Emission in SSA (2000–2030). Source Authors compilation (2022)

Fig. 3

Bar plot of the top ten SSA countries (out of the selected African countries) with the highest GHG emission. Source: Authors compilation (2022)

Fig. 4

Bar plot of the top ten SSA countries (out of the selected African countries) with the highest prevalence of malnourishment rate. Source: Authors compilation (2022)