In an address to heads of state, ministers and international partners, the President of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock said that today’s hunger crisis is not the result of scarcity, but of inequality, conflict and political choices.
Last year, more than 670 million people experienced hunger and 2.3 billion faced moderate or severe food insecurity. “That’s billions wondering where their next meal will come from. Parents must see their children go to bed hungry,” she said.
This is happening in a world that wastes over a billion meals every day.
“The hunger crisis is not a lack of food. It is completely preventable,” she emphasized, pointing to lack of access, affordability and social protection.
The meeting took place as Doha hosts the second World Summit on Social Development, with nearly 14,000 participants discussing how to strengthen social systems, expand opportunities and reduce inequality.
As the planet warms, hunger spreads
Ms Baerbock highlighted climate change as a rapidly accelerating driver of hunger. She recalled a recent visit to the Sahel, describing fertile land turned to dust as the heat rises and the rains fail. “This is the new front line for food insecurity,” she said.
If global warming continues unchecked, as many as 1.8 billion additional people could face food insecurity, she warned. But limiting warming to 1.5°C, supported by investment in adaptation and resilience, could prevent millions from falling deeper into poverty.
The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, which was launched under Brazil’s G20 presidency in 2024, now includes nearly 200 members – over 100 countries, regional organizations, international agencies and civil society groups. Monday’s meeting was the first at a leadership level, with the aim of speeding up practical cooperation, from scaling up social protection to strengthening climate-resilient agriculture.
“In a world of abundance – where there should be more than enough to go around – it is entirely possible to ensure that everyone everywhere has enough to eat,” said Mrs. Baerbock.A world free of hunger and poverty is not a distant wish. It is within reach if we reach for it together.“
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