London: Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and prominent philanthropist, has warned that climate change will exacerbate the global child health crisis caused by malnutrition. According to a report released by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Tuesday, climate change will result in 40 million more children experiencing stunted growth and 28 million more suffering from wasting—the most severe and irreversible forms of malnutrition—by 2050.
“Unless you get the right food, broadly, both in utero and in your early years, you can never catch up,” Gates told Reuters in an online interview last week. He emphasized that inadequate nutrition impairs both physical and mental development, increasing susceptibility to diseases such as measles and malaria and raising the risk of early death.
Gates highlighted that climate change significantly impacts the food system, noting, “Around 90% of the negative effect of climate change works through the food system. Where you have years where your crops basically fail because of drought or too much rain.”
This statement precedes the release of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s annual Goalkeepers report, which assesses progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including efforts to reduce poverty and improve health. The report includes the aforementioned projections.
Also Read | UK PM Starmer Pledges Growth Focus in First Budget, Cautions Against Unfunded Spending
In 2023, the World Health Organization estimated that 148 million children suffered from stunting and 45 million from wasting. Gates has called for increased funding for nutrition, specifically through the new Child Nutrition Fund led by UNICEF, which aims to coordinate donor financing. He emphasized that this funding should not detract from other proven initiatives, such as routine childhood vaccinations.
Also Read | Microsoft Approves Major $60 Billion Buyback Program, Anticipates AI-Driven Growth
“(Nutrition) was under-researched … it’s eye-opening how important this is,” Gates added, advocating for strategies such as food fortification and improved access to prenatal vitamins, which could significantly enhance child health in the world’s poorest countries.
