Officials scramble as worsening crisis leaves communities scrambling for food: 'Challenges posed by weather and transportation issues'

Canadian officials have allocated funds to get Indigenous Inuit communities in the Nunatsiavut region more stable access to food as climate change devastates the area's traditional food supply. 

What's happening?

Indigenous Services Canada, a governmental department that collaborates with Indigenous communities to help ensure they receive adequate access to essential resources, is sending five Nunatsiavut communities $86,000 to stock local food banks and community freezers.

As heat-trapping gases are continuously put into the atmosphere each year, the planet has warmed, impacting cold-weather areas like Nunatsiavut. Inuit communities are no longer able to hunt and travel on thick ice like they used to. Because the ecosystem has been disrupted, animal patterns have changed, impacting the local food supply.

"This initiative aims to ensure that our most vulnerable populations have access to nutritious food despite the challenges posed by weather and transportation issues," Melva Williams, first minister and acting health and social development minister, said in a statement.

Why is climate-driven food insecurity important?

As the climate crisis worsens, extreme weather has been preventing hunters, fishermen, and farmers from yielding the same amount of food as before. Food growers across the globe have reported meager harvests in recent years. Natural disasters are threatening the future supply of certain crops, which impacts our access to food.

This can have a ripple effect on your grocery costs. As crop yields become smaller, certain products become scarce and more costly. Thus, it's important to plan out your grocery list in order to make sure you're buying what you need. 

What's being done about climate-driven food insecurity ?

As previously mentioned, the Canadian government is helping ease the stress of food insecurity in Nunatsiavut by sending money to assist in supplying food to the community.

Scientists have been finding ways to make certain staple crops, like rice and wheat, more resilient to unpredictable weather changes. As researchers discover more breakthroughs in agricultural technology, the findings help point us toward solutions for securing the global food supply.

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