Welthungerhilfe (WHH) on the UN Climate Meetings in Bonn (SB64)
Climate crisis is depriving millions of their livelihoods – El Niño and the Iran war threaten global food security
Bonn/Berlin, June 7, 2026. Droughts, floods, and extreme heat are pushing more and more people around the world into hunger. At the same time, concerns are growing over a strong El Niño event that could have severe impacts on harvests and food prices. The Iran war is also already exacerbating the global food crisis. Ahead of the UN Climate Meetings in Bonn, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) is calling for courageous political action and significantly increased public climate finance for countries most affected by the climate crisis. “The Bonn Climate Conference is a litmus test for the international community and a critical stepping stone toward COP31 in November,” said Dunja Krause, climate expert at WHH. Climate shocks, violent conflict, and hunger reinforce one another.
“The climate crisis has long since become a food crisis. When harvests fail as a result of extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, food prices rise and hunger increases. People in the Global South, who have contributed the least to the crisis, are facing its worst consequences. A strong El Niño event is likely to intensify heavy rainfall and make prolonged periods of drought even more severe,” warns Dunja Krause. The Iran war demonstrates just how closely fossil fuel dependence and food security are linked. “The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a fatal chain reaction. Surging energy and fertilizer costs are causing food prices to rise dramatically.”
Germany’s claim to be a leader in climate action and a reliable partner to the Global South must also be reflected in the federal budget. “Chancellor Merz is calling for ambitious international climate action and intends to continue contributing a fair share towards the international climate finance target of 300 billion euros. To that end, the federal government must act decisively and allocate significantly more than six billion euros from the public budget in the future. Especially when it comes to climate change adaptation, grants should be given priority over loans. Cuts to international climate finance or the Development Ministry’s budget send the completely wrong signal here,” emphasizes Krause. Furthermore, the phase-out of fossil fuels must be significantly accelerated.
Agricultural and food systems are both drivers of the climate crisis and part of the solution. The way food is produced, distributed, and consumed generates significant greenhouse gas emissions, while these systems are also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. “Transforming agricultural and food systems must become a central pillar of climate policy. Anyone serious about fighting hunger must make agriculture more climate-resilient and strengthen local food systems as a whole - from farm to fork,” Krause said. “This includes better soil and water conservation, climate-adapted farming practices, drought-tolerant seeds, reduced use of fossil-based fertilizers, and stronger local and regional markets and supply chains.”
Climate expert Dunja Krause will participate in the negotiations at the Bonn Climate Conference starting on June 8 and is available for interviews.
Somalia as an example: Investments in climate adaptation are paying off
The example of Somalia illustrates just how important early investments in climate resilience are. The country has been suffering from extreme droughts for years, with some areas now even facing famine. Now that light rains have returned for the first time in over a year, initial successes are becoming visible in areas where WHH, together with Somali partners, invested early in soil and water conservation. During the dry season, communities were able to build retention and protection structures that store rainwater and make it usable. The first pastures are beginning to recover, thereby securing livelihoods.
El Niño increases the risk of new extreme weather events
These measures are particularly crucial, as forecasts suggest the possibility of a strong El Niño developing later this year. This could also alter rainfall patterns in Somalia and other parts of the Horn of Africa and - depending on the region -increase the risk of both flooding and drought.
Strengthening climate adaptation and humanitarian assistance together
Dealing with these increasing extreme weather events shows that humanitarian assistance and long-term climate adaptation must go hand in hand. Early investments in climate-resilient agriculture, local early warning systems, and anticipatory humanitarian action are crucial to better prepare communities for impending crises and make them more resilient to the climate crisis.
To provide context for current forecasts and the potential impacts of an El Niño on food security and humanitarian crises, WHH has published a recent background briefing in collaboration with partners.
Welthungerhilfe is one of the largest private aid organizations in Germany; it is politically independent and nondenominational. With courage and determination, it is striving for a world without hunger. Since it was founded on December 14, 1962, 12,777 overseas projects in about 72 countries have been supported with 5.42 billion euros. Welthungerhilfe follows the principle of empowering people to help themselves to sustainably improve their living conditions, through approaches ranging from fast disaster relief to reconstruction and long-term development cooperation projects with national and international partner organizations.
