Countries across the world see food price shocks from climate extremes
9 months ago
- #food-security
- #climate-change
- #price-spikes
- Extreme weather is causing price spikes in foods like potatoes, rice, vegetables, olive oil, cocoa, and coffee.
- Climate change has made droughts, heatwaves, and heavy rainfall more severe, damaging crops globally.
- Examples include a 22% rise in UK potato prices due to extreme rainfall and an 80% spike in US vegetable prices after drought.
- Olive oil prices in the EU rose 50% due to drought in Spain and Italy, which produce much of the world's supply.
- Cocoa prices surged nearly 300% after a heatwave in Ivory Coast and Ghana, major global producers.
- Coffee prices increased 55% (Arabica) and 100% (Robusta) due to droughts in Brazil and heatwaves in Vietnam.
- India saw an 80% rise in onion and potato prices after a May heatwave.
- Japan and South Korea experienced higher rice and cabbage prices due to record-breaking summer heat.
- Pakistan's rural food prices jumped 50% after extreme monsoon rains in 2022.
- Low-income households are disproportionately affected, often forced to choose less nutritious foods.
- Rising food prices exacerbate malnutrition and diet-related diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
- UK farmers face extreme weather swings, from heatwaves to heavy rain, harming crops like cereals and sugar beet.
- Climate change added £360 to the average UK household food bill in 2022-2023.
- Global warming is projected to reach 3°C, worsening food insecurity and price volatility.
- The study highlights the urgent need for net-zero emissions to mitigate further damage.