A recent study published in Nature and highlighted by multiple scientific sources warns that climate change is projected to reduce global yields of staple crops by 11% to 24% by 2100, even after accounting for adaptation measures. These staple crops currently provide two-thirds of the calories consumed by humanity. North America is expected to be among the hardest hit regions. Concurrently, extreme weather events linked to climate change are driving significant increases in food prices worldwide, with examples including a 300% surge in Australian lettuce prices, an 80% rise in U.S. vegetable costs, and a 15% increase in Spanish olive oil prices. In Japan, the global surge in demand for matcha green tea is straining production, which is further challenged by rising temperatures and a declining number of tea plantations. This has led to shortages and soaring matcha prices internationally, compounded by U.S. tariffs on Japanese tea imports. Additionally, unstable weather conditions and heatwaves are causing supply shortages and price hikes for summer vegetables such as cucumbers and bell peppers in Japan, with prices rising by approximately 30%. Similar heat-driven price inflation is observed in South Korea, where watermelon prices have increased by over 30% and spinach by more than 70% within a month. These developments collectively illustrate the growing impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and food affordability globally.
Lahat ng ito may impact sa quality of life natin: mahal na pagkain, kulang na sahod, baha, trabaho, at labis na pamumulitika #AnimatED #Editorial https://t.co/7TGOJOCEh5
抹茶热潮正在席卷全球。需求激增、热浪导致茶叶减产、美国对日本征收关税,都进一步推高了抹茶的价格。https://t.co/TAtNpQXbLk
#Editorial: Lahat ng ito may impact sa quality of life natin: mahal na pagkain, kulang na sahod, baha, trabaho, at labis na pamumulitika. https://t.co/7TGOJOCEh5