Carbon Brief
Climate love
Climate love
Sarah Chabane
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5 ways the climate crisis is impacting food production and food prices globally #WorldFoodDay
Expensive olive oil, stronger wines, pricy chocolate? If you have visited a supermarket recently, you can feel how the climate crisis is already having a profound impact on global food production and prices around the world. Only one week ago The Guardian was reporting on this year's harvest being the second worst on record due to wet weather. As global temperatures rise and extreme weather and events increase, agricultural yields are suffering, leading to fluctuations in food availability and sharp price increases.
Carbon Brief has gathered 5 examples of how climate change is affecting food production and costs across different regions:
🌡️ Europe: Extreme heat and inflation
In 2022, Europe experienced record-breaking heatwaves, which exacerbated food inflation. A study found that unusually high temperatures caused food inflation to increase by 0.43-0.93 percentage points in several European countries. This trend is expected to worsen as global warming continues. Higher temperatures during hot months disrupt crops, reduce yields, and push food prices up, creating long-term inflation spikes.
🫒 Mediterranean: Drought and olive oil shortages
The Mediterranean region has faced significant drought and high temperatures, resulting in a 30% decline in olive oil production since 2021. In Spain, drought reduced olive groves to the point that olive oil became one of the most expensive and stolen items in supermarkets. It has also led to a lot of low-quality olive oil being sold as extra virgin olive oil. Prices rose by over 50% across the EU, driven by climate-exacerbated heatwaves and water scarcity.
⛈️ United Kingdom: Heavy rainfall and crop delays
The UK’s frequent heavy rainfall in 2023 led to waterlogged fields, delaying crop planting and reducing vegetable production by nearly 5%. Crops like cauliflower and onions were particularly affected, and experts predict an overall drop in wheat and barley production by 17.5% in 2024. Wet weather events, driven by climate change, continue to challenge the farming sector, creating unpredictable shortages.
🍊 United States: Declining orange production
In the U.S., orange production has dropped sharply, with Florida’s output more than halving since 2020. Extreme weather, such as hurricanes like Ian in 2022, and diseases exacerbated by climate change have devastated orange crops, pushing orange juice prices to nearly double their 2020 levels.
🌾 China: Floods and droughts impact rice yield
In China, extreme weather has severely impacted rice production. From 1999 to 2012, heavy rainfall caused an 8% drop in rice yields. Floods and heatwaves continue to affect major crops, including corn and wheat, pushing up prices for fruits and vegetables as farmers struggle with erratic weather patterns.
As we mark World Food Day today, we can't ignore the impact of climate change on global food production and the urgent need for action. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and erratic rainfall are already disrupting food systems, driving up prices and threatening food security and livelihoods, particularly in vulnerable regions. These examples show that no part of the world is immune to these challenges. To protect global food security, we must prioritise climate-resilient agriculture, reduce emissions, and support farmers in adapting to these growing threats. #WeDontHaveTime.
Five charts: How climate change is driving up food prices around the world - Carbon Brief
Global food prices have seen huge fluctuations in recent years, soaring to record highs in...
https://www.carbonbrief.org/five-charts-how-climate-change-is-driving-up-food-prices-around-the-world/
About | World Food Day| Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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7 w
The climate crisis is significantly impacting food production and prices worldwide, highlighting urgent challenges. From droughts in the Mediterranean affecting olive oil to heavy rainfall in the UK delaying crops, the disruption to food systems is alarming. Immediate action is needed to bolster climate-resilient agriculture and ensure food security.
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7 w
With all that has been happening globally due to climate change,we need to act now and atleast make a difference.
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@jane_wangui Every effort counts, whether it’s supporting sustainable practices, advocating for climate policies, or reducing waste. Collective action can drive meaningful change, protecting food security and our planet for future generations.
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7 w
a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of climate change and food security.
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8 w
Unfortunately, the situation will only get worse. When looking at the situation in Florida and Nigeria, the farmers have have suffered uncountable losses.
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7 w
@tabitha_kimani Indeed; the struggles faced by farmers in places like Florida and Nigeria illustrate the devastating impact of climate change. Increasingly extreme weather patterns lead to crop failures and financial instability, highlighting the urgent need for targeted support and adaptive strategies for vulnerable agricultural communities.
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8 w
This is a clear indication that we need to act Sooner and bring about change before we loose all that we've got .
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8 w
reading is so heartbreaking, climate change is a reality, urgent action is required before hunger strikes the world
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2 w
@annett_michuki HI, yes, but how to that? What's needed?
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8 w
This is saddening. The fact that the adverse weather conditions has impacted negatively nearly all the parts of the globe as indicated by the extensive examples of this article, this should be a wake up call for all of us to stand together and face the enemy. Our enemy is climate crisis and if not averted we might end up in even a worst food crisis than we are already in.
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2 w
@joseph_githinji HI, yes, for sure the climate crisis will continue and food crises will increase. A very sad conclusion.
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8 w
Dear Sarah Chabane Your climate love has received over 50 agrees! We have reached out to Carbon Brief by email and requested a response. I will keep you updated on any progress! To reach more people and increase the chance of a response, click the Share button above to share the review on your social accounts. For every new member that joins We Don't Have Time from your network, we will plant a tree and attribute it to you! /Adam, We Don't Have Time
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8 w
This is indeed devastating. From extreme weather events disrupting crop yields to shifting growing seasons, the effects are far-reaching. This poses a threat to food security and affordability, requiring urgent action and sustainable solutions to mitigate its impact on global food systems.
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@walter_lungayi But who does this action? and what actionable solutions?
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8 w
Scary. I was not aware of the devastating effects already at this level of warming.
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8 w
Climate change has reallly had a great impact on food production and if this is not acted upon so fast, the world might run out of food production and scarcity means great risk in people's health and great numbers of death,we all have a role to protect food security by engaging ourselves in activities that dont triger climate change and create awareness to everyone of the food security threats
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@eric_muriithi HI, Yes, but we need specifics, what doesn't trigger climate change that we can do? There needs to be guidance.
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8 w
Great review and supporting articles! True the impacts of climate change on food production and prices are undeniable in many places all over the world. The evidence From droughts in the Mediterranean to flooding in the UK, etc, it's clear we need urgent action to support climate-resilient agriculture. Prioritizing sustainability is essential for ensuring food security globally. #WorldFoodDay #WeDontHaveTime