Disaster

Famine

A famine is an extreme and widespread scarcity of food that leads to a significant number of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition. Famine is often caused by a combination of factors, including severe weather conditions, crop failures, conflict, economic instability, and inadequate distribution of food resources.

Illustrated barren fields and empty food stores depicting the devastation of famine
Illustration from the Climate Cooldown board game.

In the game

In the game Climate Cooldown, "Famine" is a Disaster card which causes a loss of food resources due to extreme food scarcity caused by severe weather conditions.

Prospective degrees

Agricultural economicsInternational development

Careers

Food security analystHumanitarian aid coordinator

For the classroom

Discussion prompts by grade level

  • What is famine and why does it happen?
  • Can you think of any ways to help people affected by famine?

Connects to

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals