Climate Crisis Driving Global Surge in Food Prices, Scientists Warn LONDON,
Scientists have issued a stark warning that the intensifying climate crisis is directly fueling global food price spikes, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and threatening economic stability worldwide. A new multi-institutional study has found a strong correlation between climate-driven extreme weather and sharp increases in the cost of essential food commodities in recent years.
The study, conducted by researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the European Central Bank, and other academic bodies, examined data from over a dozen countries and found that events such as prolonged droughts, heatwaves, floods, and erratic rainfall have significantly disrupted food production. These disruptions are pushing up prices of basic staples like cereals, vegetables, and oils across multiple continents.
Among the examples cited are the soaring costs of cocoa in West Africa, which surged by over 300% following drought conditions in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. In South Asia, onion and rice prices have hit decade-highs due to excessive heat and delayed monsoon rains. Even developed economies have not been spared; potato shortages in the UK and vegetable supply disruptions in California have caused consumer prices to spike, contributing to broader inflation.
Scientists have coined the term “heatflation” to describe how extreme temperatures not only reduce crop yields but also accelerate food spoilage, increase water demand, and drive up logistics costs. The result is a compounding effect that places additional strain on already fragile food supply chains.
Forecasts suggest that without urgent intervention, climate-related food inflation could add up to 3% to annual food costs globally by 2035. Low-income countries and subsistence farmers are expected to bear the brunt, as rising prices lead to increased hunger, malnutrition, and social unrest. Experts are calling for stronger climate adaptation strategies, increased investment in resilient agriculture, and more aggressive global action to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Without coordinated global efforts, they warn, food insecurity and economic hardship will continue to rise in step with global temperatures.
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