World hunger in focus as G20 leaders meet

A coalition of Australia's leading development and aid groups - Help Fight Famine - have marked the start of the summit with several recommendations which pave the way for the federal government to help put a stop to widespread hunger.

Escalating conflict and extreme weather events caused by the changing climate are exacerbating the already dire malnutrition crisis.

Russia has been accused of using the crisis as a bargaining chip in its invasion of Ukraine, stopping export routes which drives up food and fertiliser prices. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is attending the summit and is being called on to commit $150 million to provide immediate relief to the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa, where famine threatens 300,000 people.

The group also wants a $200 million annual commitment to address the root causes of hunger, such as investing in the Global Food Strategy.

Save the Children CEO Mat Tinkler said Australia can be a champion for developing nations at the G20 by advocating for solutions to end hunger for all.

"The world's poorest and most vulnerable are malnourished and dying, yet there is capacity to feed everyone," he said.

"To achieve that we need the will and diplomacy of wealthier nations.

"The hunger crisis needs urgent funding now, but we also need to look at tackling the conditions that allow millions of people to starve."

The federal government is also being urged to significantly increase its climate finance commitment as well as encourage other wealthy nations to protect food systems against climate change and conflict

Oxfam Australia chief executive Lyn Morgain urged Australia to take concrete actions to help end the "catastrophic" food crisis unfolding around the world.

"Australia's unique diplomatic and scientific expertise can be a game-changer for the global food system," she said.

"It's time to play our part to bolster the world's food system against conflict and climate shocks."