Climate Change Deepens Malnutrition Crisis In Maha: UNICEF

Nagpur: Climate change is emerging as a major driver of malnutrition in Maharashtra, with its cascading impact disproportionately affecting pregnant women and young children. According to UNICEF, climate shocks such as droughts, rising temperatures and agrarian distress are intensifying food insecurity and reducing dietary diversity, particularly in tribal regions, farming belts and urban informal settlements. The issue was discussed at a capacity-building workshop on maternal nutrition and inclusive early childhood development organised jointly by UNICEF India and the Press Information Bureau at IMA Hall recently. Experts highlighted that the impact of climate change is most severe during pregnancy and early childhood — a critical window for fetal growth and brain development. Nutritional deprivation during this phase can have lifelong consequences, increasing the risk of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disorders.Dr Mrudula Phadke, former vice-chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences and senior advisor to the state govt and UNICEF, said food insecurity, heat stress and physically demanding labour during pregnancy not only puts the mother's health at risk but also the lifelong health trajectory of the child.Reinforcing the link between nutrition, early childhood development and climate vulnerability, Dr Subodh S Gupta from Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram, said these factors form an interconnected pathway beginning before conception and accelerating in the first 1,000 days of life. Experts warned that poor nutrition during fetal and early infancy stages can "programme" metabolism, making children more susceptible to obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and even mental health issues later in life. The growing burden of childhood non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is already visible in Maharashtra, with over six million children affected by conditions including diabetes, asthma, congenital heart disease, sickle cell disease and obesity, which were once largely seen in adults.However, specialists stressed that early interventions can significantly alter this trajectory. Preventing early growth failure not only improves child survival and cognitive development but also reduces long-term healthcare costs and productivity losses, especially in climate-vulnerable communities.Sanjay Singh, chief of UNICEF Maharashtra, described maternal and child nutrition as one of the most effective climate adaptation strategies. Strengthening nutrition and reducing environmental stress during pregnancy, he said, can break intergenerational cycles of malnutrition. Echoing the call for action, Smita Vats-Sharma, director general (West Zone), PIB, said the workshop reaffirmed the govt's commitment to ensuring that every pregnant woman, especially in vulnerable tribal and rural areas, receives adequate nutrition and care for a healthy start to life.The workshop concluded with a focus on translating evidence into action, with stakeholders emphasising the need for integrated policies linking climate resilience, nutrition and early childhood development.