Rise in Food Prices Driven by Climate Crisis Threaten World’s Poorest, Report Finds

Rise in Food Prices Driven by Climate Crisis Threaten World’s Poorest, Report Finds
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Climate change-induced food price shocks are increasing globally, threatening malnutrition, political instability, and social unrest among the world’s poorest populations, The Guardian reported. The report links recent surges in staple food prices—including potatoes in the UK, cabbages in South Korea, onions in India, and cocoa in Ghana—to extreme weather events that have exceeded all historical precedents prior to 2020.

Unprecedented temperatures and droughts in Ghana and Ivory Coast, major cocoa producers, led to a 300% global price spike for cocoa in early 2024. Such price increases not only undermine local food security and health but also have ripple effects worldwide. Low-income households often cut back on more expensive fruits and vegetables, increasing risks of diet-related health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

The study, conducted by the UK’s Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), the European Central Bank (ECB), the Food Foundation, Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, analyzed food price spikes in 18 countries between 2022 and 2024. It found that heatwaves, droughts, and heavy precipitation drove these increases, which ranged from 16% to 300%.

Climate-induced events like wetness, floods, droughts, and heatwaves have caused significant food price increases globally. Australia’s lettuces surged 300%, Ghana’s cocoa 280%, and Vietnam’s coffee 100%. Heatwaves and droughts heavily impacted crops across Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with rises ranging from 16% to 300% between 2022 and 2025.

The report also highlights wider economic impacts, noting that food price inflation complicates efforts to control overall inflation and influences interest rates and election outcomes. Experts warn these challenges will worsen until net zero emissions are achieved. The findings come ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake, where global leaders will discuss threats to the food system.