A new study has found that extreme weather caused by climate change is driving up prices of basic food products worldwide, posing wider risks to society. The cost of goods such as potatoes and coffee increased dramatically due to “extreme” weather conditions prior to 2020, according to a research led by Maximillian Kotz.
The study looked at 16 examples across 18 countries where prices spiked in the short term due to heat, drought, or heavy precipitation between 2022 and 2024. In South Korea, cabbage prices rose by 70% last September following a heatwave. In Europe, olive oil prices increased by 50% in January 2024 after a prolonged drought.
Rice prices soared by 48% in Japan in September 2024 due to a heatwave that was the hottest since regional records began in 1946. In Ghana and Ivory Coast, where nearly 60% of the world’s cocoa production is sourced, a heatwave led to global cocoa prices rising by 280% in April.
The study warns that healthy food tends to cost more than less healthy alternatives, leading low-income households to cut back on nutritious food like fruit and vegetables. This can lead to health complications like malnutrition, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. The researchers also note that extreme weather conditions can worsen overall inflation, contributing to political unrest and social upheaval.
“We need to take urgent action to reduce emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change,” said Kotz. “Until then, we will continue to see damage to crops and price increases for food worldwide.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/21/business/food-prices-climate-change-intl