Climate change drives up food prices: experts warn of crisis

Climate change drives up food prices: experts warn of crisis

Natural disasters and extreme weather are increasing, leading to significantly rising prices for foods such as olive oil, cocoa and oranges. Experts warn that this is just the beginning of a price spiral. Crop failures caused by climate change are increasing price increases. The EU has already taken measures to address possible food crises due to climate change.

Empty shelves and panic buying during the corona pandemic illustrate the potentially serious impact of food shortages. The increasing price rise of olive oil, sugar, coffee and cocoa suggests that Europe, like other regions, may be facing a critical period in food supply.

The climate crisis is making a significant contribution to the increase in the price of food. Climate change-related crop failures, floods and droughts are affecting food production and leading to falling yields, particularly in hard-hit regions. Forecasts show that rising temperatures could significantly boost food inflation, leading to a tightening of the price situation.

Experts emphasize that climate change has become a key economic factor for price stability. Climate economists warn of possible price shocks in supermarkets and emphasize the urgency of adapting agriculture to the new climatic conditions in order to ensure stable prices in the long term.

EU bodies have prepared for potential food crises in stress tests. Scenarios such as global climate change were run through to analyze the impact on supplies. The results show that few governments are prepared for such crises and urgent policy action at EU level is needed to ensure food security in the future.