Extreme weather is pushing up food prices in the UK, US, Ethiopia and beyond, raising urgent concerns over child health and global food security.
An international study led by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center examined climate-driven price spikes in 18 countries from 2022 to 2024, showing how heat, drought and floods are hitting global food supply chains.
British potatoes, Indian onions and South African maize are just some of the staples affected.
UK potato prices rose 22% in early 2024 after winter rainfall intensified by climate change. In the US, vegetables soared 80% in November 2022 following western droughts.
In Ethiopia, food prices jumped 40% after the 2022 drought. The report warns that such extremes are becoming more likely and more damaging.
Higher food prices hit lower-income households the hardest.
The Food Foundation says healthy food already costs twice as much per calorie as less healthy options. Price spikes often force families to reduce fruit and veg, increasing risks of malnutrition, heart disease and mental health issues.
Lead author Maximillian Kotz said: “Until we get to net zero emissions extreme weather will only get worse, but it’s already damaging crops and pushing up the price of food all over the world.”
Food insecurity is also rising in the UK, where climate change has already added £360 to the average household food bill since 2022.
Analysts warn that worsening harvests, like England’s second-worst on record in 2023, are straining both farmers and consumers.
Shona Goudie of The Food Foundation said: “Healthy food shouldn’t be a luxury, but soaring food prices in recent years have made it increasingly difficult for parents to afford to put healthy food on the table for their families.”
The UN Food Systems Summit on 27 July is expected to address these challenges.
Scientists and campaigners are calling for policy action, including schemes to help families afford healthy food and increase domestic food production to boost climate resilience.
Climate extremes driving food price shocks and child health risks, study finds appeared first on Energy Live News.