Climate Crisis Causing Food Price Spikes Around the World, Scientists Say
In recent research conducted by international scientists, there’s growing evidence that extreme climatic events are causing significant hikes in the prices of essential food items. From South Korean cabbage to Australian lettuce, Japanese rice, Brazilian coffee, and Ghanaian cocoa – these staples have seen unexpected price surges attributed to climate-induced disruptions since 2022.
The findings highlight how Ghana and the Ivory Coast were severely affected by a heatwave in April 2024, leading to a staggering 280% increase in global cocoa prices. Similarly, flooding in Australia in 2022 resulted in lettuce prices ascending by 300% shortly after the occurrences.
In many cases, evidence shows a close correlation between heatwaves and price surges; cabbage prices in South Korea shot up by 70% in September 2024, while Japan witnessed a 48% increment in rice prices that same month. By early 2024, potato prices in India escalated by an impressive 81% due to these extreme conditions.
Droughts have also played a major role, with Brazil experiencing a dire scarcity of water in 2023, which preceded a 55% rise in global coffee prices the following year. Ethiopia faced a severe drought in 2022, subsequently seeing overall food prices soar by 40% in 2023.
This pressing study was unveiled by six European research organizations ahead of the United Nations Food Systems Summit scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The summit is co-hosted by Ethiopia and Italy and will run from July 27 to July 29.
“Until we reach net zero emissions, extreme weather is bound to intensify, impacting crops and hiking food prices worldwide,” explained a lead researcher from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.
The complications posed by rising food costs manifest in the lives of many, with numerous individuals ranking it second only to direct experiences of extreme heat as a noticeable impact of climate change. This situation is most burdensome for low-income families who are disproportionately affected by steep increases in food prices.
There’s a broader context to the implications of these findings, as elevated food costs have become pivotal in numerous electoral campaigns worldwide. Recently, Japanese voters expressed concerns over the escalating price of rice as they headed to the polls.
Key regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina, have witnessed food prices as significant electoral issues, impacting voter sentiment over recent years.
In the UK alone, it was reported that the effects of climate change resulted in an additional £360 ($482) on the average household food bill during 2022 and 2023. The country recorded one of the poorest arable harvests in its history, attributed to extreme rainfall exacerbated by climate shifts.
Globally, under the framework of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), countries had pledged to reduce emissions significantly from 2019 to 2030, yet these commitments fall short of scientists’ estimates to limit global temperature increases in line with the Paris Agreement objectives of capping rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).
A landmark advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice is anticipated shortly. This case, advocated by Vanuatu with support from many countries in the Global South, seeks to elucidate the legal responsibilities of states in mitigating climate change impacts.
Addressing these challenges requires urgent action to curb emissions and prevent further degradation of our climate systems. As the world grapples with these escalating crises, solutions must be sought to alleviate the pressures on vulnerable communities worldwide.
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