The Fight to End Global Hunger and Malnutrition by 2030

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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KEY TAKEAWAYS
733 million people faced hunger in 2023.
Climate change and conflict create big obstacles to ending hunger.
SDG 2 aims to end hunger and ensure food access by 2030.
20% of food produced is lost before it can be eaten.
Experts suggest using agroecological methods and supporting local markets.
A significant change is needed to effectively end hunger.

The UN’s Goal to End Hunger by 2030: Where We Stand

The United Nations set out in 2015 to end global hunger by 2030 as part of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, halfway through the timeline, the reality of achieving this goal seems harder to reach. Despite many efforts, millions of people continue to suffer from hunger and malnutrition.

The Current Hunger Situation

Recent statistics show a tough picture of hunger worldwide. In 2023, about 733 million people were hungry, meaning one out of eleven people globally. In Africa, the numbers are worse, with one in five people affected (Al Jazeera). The numbers today are similar to those in 2008-2009, showing little progress.

What’s even more worrying is the expected future. If these trends continue, 582 million people will still be chronically hungry by 2030. This result reflects a huge failure in efforts to end hunger and shows the urgent need for quick, effective action.

Challenges in the Fight Against Hunger

The path to zero hunger is filled with challenges. Climate change, war, economic instability, population growth, and wasted food all make progress difficult. These problems are connected, worsening hunger around the world.

Climate change poses a direct risk to food supply. Extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, have become more common and more destructive, harming crops and livelihoods. In places where food is already scarce, these disasters push many people closer to famine.

Hunger is also common in conflict areas. Wars not only stop food from being produced and delivered, but sometimes hunger is used as a weapon. In 2018, the UN declared that using starvation as a war tactic was a war crime (National Geographic).

The reality is that while we make enough food to feed everyone, about 20% gets wasted. In richer countries, the waste happens in kitchens or when food spoils. In poorer countries, lack of storage facilities is the problem (IPS News). This loss makes hunger worse and also harms the environment.

SDG 2: Goals and Strategies

Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) sets targets to end hunger and malnutrition by 2030. The goals include:

• Making sure all people, especially the poor, have access to nutritious food.
• Ending all forms of malnutrition, including stunting and wasting in young children.
• Doubling the productivity and income of small-scale food producers.
• Maintaining sustainable food systems that protect ecosystems (UNDP).

Some progress has been made, such as reducing child stunting, but the overall situation is still challenging. The persistence of child malnutrition shows the need for stronger and more targeted actions.

Expert Opinions and Radical Solutions

As the 2030 deadline nears, experts are proposing new and bold ideas to fight global hunger. These include:

• Using agroecological farming and local food markets.
• Providing social protection for workers and ensuring fair wages.
• Creating a global tax on large food and agro-chemical companies.
• Enacting a global treaty to limit agricultural production for non-food purposes (IPS News).

These ideas reflect the growing awareness that ordinary approaches won’t solve the big and connected issues of global hunger.

The Path Forward

Standing at this critical point, it’s clear that reaching zero hunger by 2030 requires more than minor changes. We need to rethink food systems, address the causes of hunger, and apply innovative solutions at scale.

The fight against hunger isn’t only about producing more food; it’s about making sure people have equal access to it, promoting sustainable farming practices, and helping vulnerable communities stay strong. Governments, organizations, civil society, and individuals worldwide must all contribute to this effort.

Though the goal of ending world hunger by 2030 seems harder to achieve now, we cannot give up. Every step toward reducing hunger and malnutrition moves us closer to a fairer and more sustainable world. The challenge ahead is great, but the rewards are even greater. Now is the time to push forward, try new solutions, and stay committed to the vision of a hunger-free world.

FAQ

Q: What is the main goal of the UN regarding global hunger?
A: The UN aims to end global hunger by 2030 as part of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Q: How many people are currently facing hunger worldwide?
A: In 2023, approximately 733 million people faced hunger globally, or about one in every eleven people.

Q: What challenges are holding back progress in fighting hunger?
A: Major challenges include climate change, conflict, economic instability, population growth, and wasted food.

Q: What are some targets in SDG 2?
A: Targets include providing access to safe and nutritious food, reducing child malnutrition, increasing small-scale farmer productivity, and maintaining sustainable farming systems.

Q: What bold solutions do experts suggest to fight hunger?
A: Experts propose using diverse farming methods, providing social protections, taxing large food companies, and creating a global treaty to limit non-food agriculture.

Q: Why is reducing food waste important in the fight against hunger?
A: Nearly 20% of food is wasted before it reaches the plate, adding to hunger and environmental problems.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.