Extreme weather events – devastating droughts, devastating floods, and heat waves – directly destroy crops and push up the prices of basic foods. A recent study showed that after 16 particularly extreme weather events The events of 2022–2024 were always followed by a sharp increase in food prices. Scientists directly linked these phenomena to sharp price waves – this affected, for example, rice, corn, cocoa beans and vegetables.

Extreme events and their impacts

• Africa (cocoa): Extreme heat and prolonged droughts in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire significantly reduced cocoa harvests in 2024. Subsequently, cocoa prices increased by up to three times (by 300 %).
• North America (vegetables): In the US, extreme drought in the West in 2022 destroyed large areas of farmland. Fresh vegetables here have become more expensive by shocking amounts 80 %.
• Asia (rice, cabbage): In September 2024, a heat wave raged across Asia. In Japan, the price of rice shot up by about 50 % and in South Korea the price of cabbage increased by approx. 70 %.
• Europe (potatoes): Flooding and heavy rains in the winter of 2023 broke records. In Britain, torrential rains reduced the potato harvest, pushing up prices by 22 %According to the ECIU, Britain recorded its third worst harvest year in history, due to extreme weather.
• Latin America (coffee): Severe droughts in Brazil in 2023 hit coffee production. The world price of coffee subsequently jumped by 55 %.
• Europe (olive oil): A hot drought during 2022-2023 damaged olive crops in Spain and Italy. Olive oil prices rose by 50 %.

These local shocks add up to a global trend: the combination of extreme weather and rising demand for food is putting strong pressure on prices. According to international experts, these events are a major contributor to global food inflation.

Impacts on the most vulnerable

The world's poorest people are feeling the brunt of this crisis. As the cost of basic commodities increases dramatically, they are forced to turn to cheaper, less nutritious foods. This leads to malnutrition, worsening chronic diseases, and growing social tensions.

Even richer countries are not spared: rising food prices are also contributing to higher inflation at the economy-wide level. The ECIU points out that in 2023 Britain experienced its third-worst grain harvest on record, due to extreme rains. Moreover, the topic of food inflation is becoming politically sensitive – it affects both electoral sentiment and the stability of governments.

Urgency of the solution

Global media are unanimous in their warnings: such dramatic increases in food prices cannot be ignored. Heads of state and scientists are stressing that unless the world reduces emissions, extreme weather will worsen and food prices will continue to rise. Climatologist Maximilian Kotz sums it up clearly: “Until we reach zero emissions, extreme weather will only worsen, but it is already destroying crops and driving up food prices around the world.”

It is clear that the climate crisis is directly affecting the everyday cost of food. Without rapid climate and economic action, we risk another wave of food inflation, which will significantly increase the risk of hunger and poverty for millions of people.

Sources: Climatologists and economic experts have highlighted the links between extreme weather and food inflation in several studies. Spring