Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
New South Wales Public Health Bulletin New South Wales Public Health Bulletin Society
Supporting public health practice in New South Wales
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > NB > NB10019
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 21(6)

Climate change, food insecurity and chronic diseases: sustainable and healthy policy opportunities for Australia

Sharon Friel
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

Australian Research Council Future Fellow, The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University Email: Sharon.friel@anu.edu.au

NSW Public Health Bulletin 21(6) 129-133 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB10019
Published: 16 July 2010

Abstract

Food provides a link between the population health and climate stabilisation agendas. This paper argues that a broader view of food security for the 21st century in Australia and internationally is needed – one that judges the food system for its nutritional quality, social value and impact on the environment. If done well, climate change mitigation and adaptation policies provide ways to achieve this. This paper focuses on mitigation strategies, and describes how the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector through a reduction in consumption of animal source foods can improve food security and reduce the levels of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and some cancers.


References


[1] Food and Agriculture Organization. Rome declaration on world food security and World Food Summit plan of action. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 1996.

[2] Popkin BM. Global nutrition dynamics: the world is shifting rapidly toward a diet linked with noncommunicable diseases. Am J Clin Nutr 2006; 84(2): 289–98.
| PubMed |  CAS |

[3] Dowler E. Food Poverty and Food Policy. IDS Bull 1998; 29(1): 58–65.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[4] Food and Agriculture Organization. The State of Food Insecurity in the World. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 2009.

[5] Burns C. A review of the literature describing the link between poverty, food insecurity and obesity with specific reference to Australia. Melbourne: VicHealth; 2004.

[6] Gallegos D,  Ellies P,  Wright J. Still there’s no food! Food insecurity in a refugee population in Perth, Western Australia. Nutr Diet 2008; 65 78–83.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[7] Foley W,  Ward P,  Carter P,  Coveney J,  Tsourtos G,  Taylor A. An ecological analysis of factors associated with food insecurity in South Australia, 2007. Public Health Nutr 2010; 13(02): 215–21.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[8] NSW Department of Health. New South Wales Population Health Survey 2005: Food insecurity in the last 12 months by socioeconomic disadvantage, persons aged 16 years and over. Sydney: Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health; 2005.

[9] Sydney Food Fairness Alliance. Understanding food insecurity: Why families go hungry in an affluent society: Sydney Food Fairness Alliance and Food Fairness Illawarra. (Accessed May 2010.)

[10] AIHW. Australia’s Health 2008. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2008.

[11] World Health Organization. Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases. Report of a joint WHO/FAO expert consultation. Technical Report Series 916. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2003.

[12] Seligman H,  Laraia B,  Kushel M. Food insecurity is associated with chronic disease among low-income NHANES participants. J Nutr 2010; 140 304–10.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | CAS |

[13] NSW Department of Health. The health of the people of New South Wales – Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Population Health Division; 2008.

[14] Hawkes C, Blouin C, Henson S, Drager N, Dube L. Trade, food, diet and health: perspectives and policy options. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell; 2010.

[15] Friel S,  Baker P. Equity, food security and health equity in the Asia Pacific Region. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2009; 18(4): 620–32.
| PubMed |

[16] United Nations Development Programme. Human Development Report: Fighting climate change: human solidarity in a divided world. New York: United Nations Development Programme; 2007.

[17] Furgal C,  Seguin J. Climate change, health and vulnerability in Canadian northern Aboriginal communities. Environ Health Perspect 2006; 114 1964–70.
| PubMed |

[18] Butler C. Food security in the Asia-Pacific: climate change, phosphorus, ozone and other environmental challenges. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2009; 18(4): 590–7.
| PubMed |

[19] Quiggin J. Drought, climate change and food prices in Australia. Melbourne: Australian Conservation Foundation; 2010.

[20] Kettings C,  Sinclair A,  Voevodin M. A healthy diet consistent with Australian health recommendations is too expensive for welfare-dependent families. Aust N Z J Public Health 2009; 33 566–72.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[21] Lobstein T,  Friel S,  Dowler E. Food, fuel and NCDs. Lancet 2008; 372 628.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[22] Smith P,  Martino D,  Cai Z,  Gwary D,  Janzen H,  Kumar P, et al. Greenhouse gas mitigation in agriculture. Philosoph Trans Roy Soc 2008; 262 780–813.


[23] Bellarby F, Hastings S. Cool farming: Climate impacts of agriculture and mitigation potential. Aberdeen: Report produced by the University of Aberdeen for Greenpeace; 2008.

[24] Department of Climate Change. National Inventory Report 2007, Volume 1. Canberra: Department of Climate Change; 2009.

[25] Department of Climate Change. Australian National Greenhouse Accounts: State and Territories Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Canberra: Department of Climate Change; 2007.

[26] Food and Agriculture Organization. Livestock’s Long Shadow – Environmental Issues and Options. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization; 2006.

[27] McMichael A,  Powles J,  Butler C,  Uauy R. Food, livestock production, energy, climate change and health. Lancet 2007; 370 1253–63.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[28] World Cancer Research Fund. Food, nutrition, physical activity, and the prevention of cancer: a global perspective. World Cancer Research Fund; 2007.

[29] Friel S,  Marmot M,  McMichael A,  Kjellstrom T,  Vågerö D. Global health equity and climate stabilisation – need for a common agenda. Lancet 2008; 372 1677–83.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[30] Haines A,  McMichael A,  Smith K,  Roberts I,  Woodcock J,  Markandya A, et al. Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions: overview and implications for policy makers. Lancet 2009; 374 2104–14.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[31] Friel S,  Dangour AD,  Garnett T,  Lock K,  Chalabi Z,  Roberts I, et al. Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions: food and agriculture. Lancet 2009; 374 2016–25.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[32] Butler A,  Clements M,  Friel S,  McMichael A. Climate change mitigation by reduction of red meat consumption: estimated ‘co-benefit’ reduction in colorectal cancer incidence in Australia. Int J Epidemiol (forthcoming 2010);


[33] Lang T. Conclusion – big choices about the food system. In: Lawrence G, Lyons K, Wallington T, editors. Food Security, Nutrition and Sustainability. London: Earthscan; 2010.