Breastfeeding makes a difference to children and climate change

We know that climate change is one of the leading causes of humanitarian crises and is affecting millions of people already in vulnerable situations. But did you know that breastfeeding is considered the most environmentally sustainable way to feed a baby?

At Concern, we believe that the choice to breastfeed rests entirely with the mother, and we respect those choices. But whatever a mum decides, her decision will be influenced by the circumstances that she and her baby find themselves in. 

Climate change can create conditions that make it difficult for babies to be breastfed. Given how important breastfeeding is for a child’s future health and development, it can be a major problem for both mums and children during climate-related events. 

Access to nutritious foods can become limited during crises, particularly for people living in conditions of poverty. This means that women who become malnourished are often unable to breastfeed because their ability to produce milk is affected. This can sometimes lead to a dependency on alternatives such as cheap staple foods like rice or cassava - or more expensive formula milk which also requires access to safe drinking water and cooking facilities. That is why breastfeeding is often seen as a safer and more reliable way for mothers to continue to feed their babies during a crisis. Breastfeeding also has benefits for the child’s health by boosting their immune system, which is increasingly important in countries that have high rates of infant mortality and illness.
 

It is important to note, that breastfeeding will not single-handedly solve the climate crisis. But if a woman is in the position to safely choose between formula or breastfeeding, the latter will have less of an overall negative effect on the environment.

Infant formula is created using cow’s milk, which is a large contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions . In 2019, it was reported that there were only 40-50 formula processing plants globally. The effects of transporting formula globally are considerable. 

Industrialised dairy production is also responsible for deforestation, desertification and contamination of water supplies. 

Breastfeeding reduces the need for dairy farming, contamination of fresh water and single-use plastic bottles. Breastfeeding can also play a factor in reducing our carbon footprint.

Some experts estimate that, overall, breastfeeding for six months can save an estimated 95-153kg CO2e per baby compared to formula feeding.  
 

Meseret is a mother of three living in Debark, Ethiopia. She said that thanks to Concern’s mother-to-mother training sessions, she felt supported. Her experience with her youngest child, eight-month-old Birtukan, has been much more positive than that of her older two children. 

“I did not know how to breastfeed,” she said.

“There is a big difference now compared to how I raised my first child. At that time, I did not know much. I would give my baby breast milk only when he wanted to; otherwise, I would just let him be.

“Now, I understand how to feed my babies and how to properly take care of them.

“I see a difference in her health, and I haven’t visited the clinic even once within these eight months since she was born for any treatment.” 

Breastfeeding can be hugely beneficial for the health, wellbeing and survival of both babies and mothers. In fact, it’s estimated that increasing breastfeeding could save over 800,000 child deaths annually and avert 20,000 maternal deaths each year.

Concern respects the choice every mother makes: whether to breastfeed, or to do so in combination with formula feeding, and how long to breastfeed for. We know these decisions are all influenced by the unique circumstances surrounding a mother and her baby.

But in the world’s poorest places, the risks associated with not breastfeeding are significantly higher. Contamination of artificial milk or formulas due to unclean water and poor hygiene conditions can quickly lead to malnutrition, illness and death in young children. This makes promoting breastfeeding – as a hygienic and potentially life-saving intervention - even more critical in all 26 of the countries we work in.

                                                                 
We work with local communities and government health staff, in line with national breastfeeding policies, to ensure that mums are educated about the benefits of breastfeeding,  learn the right techniques and have a good support system.

With more mothers like Meseret choosing to breastfeed, we’re proud to be supporting them to do it successfully so that their children grow up healthy and strong.