CLIMATE CHANGE IS DISRUPTING

GS-3: Environment and Climate Change

Key Highlights

• Climate-driven food shortages and nutrient losses impact gut microbiota, increasing disease risks.
• Elevated CO₂ levels reduce micronutrients (e.g., phosphorus, zinc, iron) in crops like wheat and maize.
• Malnutrition and reduced microbial diversity are linked to diseases like eczema, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease.
• Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face higher risks due to climate vulnerability and nutritional deficiencies.
• Evidence suggests gut dysbiosis contributes to neurological and immune disorders.

Detailed Insights

• Diversity Disrupted:
  • Climate change alters nutrient content in crops and animal foods.
  • Gut microbiota imbalances arise, favoring harmful microbes over beneficial ones.
  • Indigenous groups reliant on local food sources are particularly affected.
• Mechanisms Identified:
  • Higher temperatures, CO₂, and drought reduce microbial diversity via changes in soil and water systems.
  • This impacts host metabolism, glucose regulation, and immune health.
  • Gut-brain axis disruptions are linked to neurological issues like autism and anxiety.
• Recent Research:
  • Studies from Lancet Planetary Health and Dialogues in Health connect gut imbalances to food insecurity and climate exposure.
  • Research from IIT Gandhinagar and AIIMS highlights effects on metabolic pathways and microbial genomes.
• Call for Action:
  • Multidisciplinary efforts are needed, integrating genomics, nutrition, climate science, and computational biology.
  • India’s GutRbp database is mapping microbiota profiles for future diagnostics and therapies.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved

• Gut Microbiota: Microorganisms in the digestive tract essential for digestion, immunity, and neurological functions.
• Dysbiosis: An imbalance in gut microbial communities leading to disease.
• Metagenomics: The study of genetic material from environmental samples to analyze microbial diversity and function.
• Gut-Brain Axis: A bidirectional communication system between gut microbiota and the brain, influencing behavior and cognition.

Significance

• Reveals a new climate-health connection beyond traditional disease vectors.
• Links environmental degradation to non-communicable diseases and mental health issues.
• Calls for nutrition-sensitive climate policies and microbiome-informed healthcare strategies.