Climate change negatively impacts children’s nutrition, particularly in developing economies such as Zimbabwe, where intervention strategies are limited. Studies on climate change in Zimbabwe mainly focus on the impact on agricultural activities and resources. This is despite an estimated 580,000 young children having been identified as living in severe food poverty and being highly vulnerable to malnutrition in 2024. This is a knowledge gap that has policy implications. This chapter contributes to closing this gap by examining how climate change affects the availability of safe food and impacts child nutrition in Zimbabwe. It then proposes how artificial intelligence (AI) can be leveraged to ensure safe food and child nutrition in the country. Underpinned by a qualitative review of primary and secondary sources, both in academic and non-academic formats, the review demonstrates that climate change affects child nutrition by disrupting food systems, reducing food quantity and quality, and exacerbating food insecurity through extreme climate-related events such as droughts and floods. It also damages water systems, increasing illness and clogging the absorption of nutrients. These factors lead to higher rates of child malnutrition, including stunting and wasting, with long-term consequences for children’s health and development. It concludes that tackling child malnutrition in Zimbabwe requires a multifaceted and integrated approach addressing the root causes, often food insecurity, poverty, climate change, and limited health services. The government, in partnership with international organisations and nonprofit actors, needs to work to combat this issue.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Climate Change Impact on Children’s Nutrition: Harnessing AI for Safe Food and Healthy Diets in Zimbabwe

  • Emmanuel Ndhlovu,
  • Clement Chipenda

摘要

Climate change negatively impacts children’s nutrition, particularly in developing economies such as Zimbabwe, where intervention strategies are limited. Studies on climate change in Zimbabwe mainly focus on the impact on agricultural activities and resources. This is despite an estimated 580,000 young children having been identified as living in severe food poverty and being highly vulnerable to malnutrition in 2024. This is a knowledge gap that has policy implications. This chapter contributes to closing this gap by examining how climate change affects the availability of safe food and impacts child nutrition in Zimbabwe. It then proposes how artificial intelligence (AI) can be leveraged to ensure safe food and child nutrition in the country. Underpinned by a qualitative review of primary and secondary sources, both in academic and non-academic formats, the review demonstrates that climate change affects child nutrition by disrupting food systems, reducing food quantity and quality, and exacerbating food insecurity through extreme climate-related events such as droughts and floods. It also damages water systems, increasing illness and clogging the absorption of nutrients. These factors lead to higher rates of child malnutrition, including stunting and wasting, with long-term consequences for children’s health and development. It concludes that tackling child malnutrition in Zimbabwe requires a multifaceted and integrated approach addressing the root causes, often food insecurity, poverty, climate change, and limited health services. The government, in partnership with international organisations and nonprofit actors, needs to work to combat this issue.