Addressing heads of state, ministers and international partners, UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said the current food crisis is not the result of scarcity, but of inequality, conflict and policy choices.
Last year, more than 670 million people went hungry and 2.3 billion faced moderate or severe food insecurity. “Billions of people wonder 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 more than a billion meals every day.
“The hunger crisis is not the lack of food. It’s entirely avoidable,» she stressed, highlighting failures in access, financial accessibility and social protection.
The meeting took place as Doha hosts the second World Summit for Social Development, where nearly 14,000 participants are discussing how to strengthen social systems, expand opportunities and reduce inequalities.
As the planet warms, hunger spreads
Baerbock highlighted that climate change is a rapidly accelerating driver of hunger. Recalling a recent visit to the Sahel, she described fertile land turning to dust as heat increases and rains decrease. “This is the new front line of food insecurity,” she said.
If global warming goes unchecked, up to 1.8 billion more people could face food insecurity, she warned. But limiting warming to 1.5°C, supported by investments in adaptation and resilience, could prevent millions of people from falling further into poverty.
Launched under Brazil’s G20 presidency in 2024, the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty now has nearly 200 members – more than 100 countries, regional organizations, international agencies and civil society groups. Monday’s meeting was the first at the leadership level and aimed to accelerate practical cooperation, from scaling up social protection to strengthening climate-resilient agriculture.
“In a world of abundance – where there should be more than enough for everyone – it is entirely possible to ensure that everyone, everywhere has enough to eat.“, said Ms. Baerbock. “A world free of hunger and poverty is not a distant aspiration. It is within our reach, if we achieve it together.»
UN Info on the ground
PK Press Club is on the ground in Doha, providing ongoing coverage throughout the week, including live updates, interviews and analysis from the Summit. Follow our coverage here.
