| Global warming |
“Process of the increase in the temperature near the surface of the planet caused by the presence of greenhouse gases” 86 (p. 3) |
| Biome |
“Groups of ecosystems with neighboring vegetation types that exhibit similar geographic and climatic aspects. Brazil has six biomes: Amazon, Caatinga (dry forest in semiarid region), Cerrado (savanna), Atlantic Forest, Pampas (grasslands), and Pantanal (wetlands). The Coastal-Marine System, encompassing the coastline and territorial waters, is considered the 7th Brazilian biome” 86 (p. 4) |
| Climate |
“Generally defined as the long-term regional or even global average (typically the average is 30 years) temperature, humidity as well as precipitation and wind patterns over a period of time ranging from months or seasons to thousands or millions of years” 36 (p. 544) |
| Social inequalities |
“Systematic, persistent differences in access to goods, resources, and opportunities that are established between individuals, social groups, or even entire populations, irrespective of individual talents, capabilities, and efforts. Social inequalities can be class-based, ethno-racial, or gender-based” 87 (p. 298) |
| Deforestation |
“Conversion of native vegetation for pastures and agricultural crops” 88 (p. 46) |
| Greenhouse gases |
“Gas components of the atmosphere (H 2 O, CO 2 , N 2 O, CH 4 , O 3 , etc.), both natural and anthropogenic, that absorb and emit radiation within the spectrum of thermal infrared radiation emitted by the surface of the Earth, the atmosphere, and clouds” 36 (p. 550-1) |
| Greenhouse effect |
“Natural phenomenon that ensures a suitable temperature for life on Earth, caused by the concentration of gases in the atmosphere that form a layer for the passage of solar rays and absorption of heat. The increase in the concentration of these gases thickens the layer, hindering the dispersion of solar radiation and causing greater heat retention” 86 (p. 8) |
| El Niño and La Niña |
“Climatic phenomena characterized by warming (El Niño) or cooling (La Niña) of the surface of the Pacific Ocean that cause changes in atmospheric circulation patterns throughout the entire the planet” 86 (p. 8) |
|
Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA) |
Psychometric scale for the direct measurement of food insecurity in Brazil based on the experiences and perceptions of affected individuals - residents of the household 22 |
| Extreme weather events |
“Occurrence of a climate or weather variable above (or below) a limit value near the upper (or lower) extremities of the range of observed values for the variable (includes extreme heat waves, droughts, forest fires, floods, etc.)” 86 (p. 9) |
| Food insecurity |
Deprivation of regular, permanent access to quality food in sufficient quantities in families. Based on the perception of the experience of the household in the previous 90 days, the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale indicates one of the following levels of food insecurity experienced by families: mild, moderate, or severe 22 |
| Household water insecurity |
“Defined as the inability to gain access to and benefit from water of adequate quality and in sufficient quantity for all domestic, human, and production uses, when applicable; i.e., reliable (from the standpoint of the source) and safe (from the standpoint of sanitary quality) water to ensure well-being and a healthy life” 89 (p. 2) |
| Childhood malnutrition |
Condition that occurs due to an imbalance of nutrients essential for growth and development; when a child’s diet lacks adequate nutrients and energy. Includes all forms of malnutrition (undernutrition evidenced by low weight-for-height, stunted growth, or low weight-for-age; vitamin or mineral deficiencies; over weight, obesity, and diet-related noncommunicable diseases) 23 |
| Climate change |
“Any change in climate over time due to natural variability and/or as a result of human activities. Includes increase in surface temperature of the Earth and changes in precipitation, humidity, and wind, with a greater occurrence of extreme weather events” 36 (p. 544) |
| Representative concentration pathways (RCPs) |
“Trajectories of greenhouse gas concentrations used to model the climate. The IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] uses RCPs to create future climate change scenarios” 36 (p. 556) |
| Child health and nutrition |
Promoting healthy eating habits and prevention of child malnutrition in all its forms, using a systems approach to nutrition. This approach strengthens the capacity of five key systems - food, health, water and sanitation, education, and social protection - to provide diets, services, and practices that support adequate maternal and child nutrition 23 |
| Food security |
When all people - at all times - have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active, healthy life 51 |
| Food and nutritional security |
Assurance of everyone’s right to regular, permanent access to quality food in sufficient quantity without compromising access to other essential needs, based on health-promoting eating practices that respect cultural diversity and are environmentally, culturally, economically, and socially sustainable 22 |
| Water security |
Availability of water in sufficient quantity and quality to meet human needs as well as ensure the practice of economic activities and the conservation of aquatic ecosystems, accompanied by an acceptable level of risk related to droughts and floods 90 |
| Global syndemic of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change |
“Synergy among the pandemics of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change that interact with each other, sharing common underlying social factors and producing complex, interrelated consequences, according to the concept proposed by Swinburn and collaborators” 2 (p. 794-5) |
| Food system |
“Set of all elements (environment, people, inputs, processes, infrastructure, institutions, etc.) and activities related to the production, processing, distribution, preparation, and consumption of food, and the results of these activities, including socioeconomic and environmental results. The food system includes three subsystems: (i) the food supply chain (encompasses activities such as production, storage, distribution, processing, packaging, retail, and marketing); (ii) the food environment (encompasses dimensions of availability, such as prices, properties of the supplier and product, and personal dimensions, such as accessibility, convenience of food sources and products); and (iii) eating behavior (reflects the choices and decisions made by consumers regarding which foods to select and how to store, prepare, and consume these foods in the home)” 91 (p. 23) |
Climate change, food insecurity, and the impacts on child health and nutrition in Brazil: proposal for a conceptual model
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Note: letters (a-e) indicate the different dimensions; numbers (1-4) indicate the different pathways connecting the dimensions. The (a) pathway indicates the direct impact of climate change on food insecurity; the (b) pathways (b.1 and b.2) indicate the relationship between the food system and both climate change and food insecurity; The (c) pathways (c.1 to c.3) indicate the relationship between water insecurity and the other components; the (d) pathways (d.1 to d.4) show how social inequalities determine the relationships; and the (e) pathways (e.1 to e.4) show how malnutrition is influenced by food insecurity, climate change, water insecurity, and social inequalities.