Food Prices Increase Due to Climate Change

Food Prices Increase Due to Climate Change

Global food prices have seen huge fluctuations in recent years, with extreme weather events, geopolitical conflict, high input costs, and increased demands contributing to the spike. High temperatures have been persistently linked to increased food inflation. A recent study suggests that levels of extra warming projected to hit Europe by 2035 could amplify food inflation by 30-50%. In the UK, farmers faced some of the highest rainfall levels in decades, delaying crop planting and decreasing yield. The overall production of grains is estimated to drop by 17.5% this year. The United States has seen a steady increase in orange juice prices in recent years due to diseases and extreme weather causing a decline in production. The U.S. saw a 40% drop in orange production over the last 4 years. The price of olive oil has soared across the world, with prices rising by almost 70% in Portugal and 50% in the EU due to global olive production decreases due to high temperatures.

Orla Dwyer, Carbon Brief

Climate Innovators Under 35

MIT Technology Review recently released a list of 35 Innovators Under 35, with a chunk of those working on technology in climate and energy fields in an effort to combat climate change. Tim Latimer cofounded a geothermal company that hopes to provide consistently available, carbon-free energy using Earth’s heat. Andrew Ponec is working to build thermal energy storage systems that use technology to heat up blocks when cheap renewables are available, and then stores that heat and delivers it to industrial processes that need constant power. Noah McQueen cofounded a carbon removal company that aims to tweak the way minerals soak up carbon dioxide from the air. Claire Nelson cofounded a company that is working on storage methods to better trap carbon dioxide underground. Julie Carpenter has found a way to make a foam-like material from metal that can help cool things down efficiently, which could be of help in data centers where 40% of energy demand goes toward cooling. Cody Finke is the CEO of a company that is working on cleaner ways of making cement, since cement alone is responsible for nearly 7% of global GHG emissions.

Casey Crownhart, MIT Technology Review

WMO Predicts 60% Chance of La Nina

The World Meteorological Organization Global Producing Centres of Long-Range Forecasts recently announced there is a 55% likelihood of a transition from the current ENSO neutral conditions to La Nina conditions between the months of September and November 2024. The chances of La Nina increase to 60% between October 2024 and February 2025. WMO Secretary-General says that although La Nina offers short-term cooling, it will not change the long-term trajectory of rising global temperatures due to heat-trapping greenhouse gases. The past 9 years have been the warmest on record, even with the cooling influence of a multi-year La Nina from 2020 to early 2023. WMO’s global seasonal climate update predicts that widespread above-normal sea-surface temperatures as well as temperatures over almost all land areas will persist.

World Meteorological Organization