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Straits Times
12-08-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Climate heat extremes driving tropical bird decline: Study
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Nearly half of all bird species are found in biodiversity-rich tropical regions. PARIS - Tropical bird populations have plummeted not only due to deforestation but also extreme heat attributable to climate change, according to a study published on Aug 11 in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. Intensifying temperatures caused a 25 per cent to 38 per cent reduction in tropical bird populations between 1950 and 2020, compared to a scenario without manmade global warming, scientists based in Europe and Australia reported. 'The findings are pretty stark,' lead author Maximilian Kotz, a researcher at the National Supercomputing Centre in Barcelona and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), told AFP. Bird populations in the tropics now face 30 days of heat extremes per year compared to three per year in the mid-20th century, he noted. 'This has major consequences for how we think about biodiversity conservation,' Dr Kotz said by email. 'Protecting pristine habitats is crucial, but without dealing with climate change it won't be enough for birds.' Nearly half of all bird species are found in biodiversity-rich tropical regions. These often colourful animals perform essential services for ecosystems, such as dispersing plant seeds. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore raises 2025 economic growth forecast but warns of uncertainty from US tariffs Singapore Circle Line to end early most Fridays and Saturdays, start late most weekends from Sept 5 to Dec 28 Business StarHub buys rest of MyRepublic's broadband business in $105m deal; comes after Simba buys M1 Singapore Telco price undercutting expected to subside after sale of M1 to Simba: Analysts World After tariff truce extended, a Trump-Xi summit in China? Asia Death of student in Sabah raises hurdle for Malaysian PM Anwar as he faces tough state polls soon Opinion Sumiko at 61: Hearing loss is linked to dementia risk. Here's what you risk by ignoring it Opinion For Singapore, the AI revolution is coming just in time Invasive species another threat But birds living in these regions may already be 'close to the limits' of their tolerance to high temperatures, which can cause heatstroke (hyperthermia) or dehydration. The overview study does not provide figures for individual species, but earlier literature is rich with examples of the devastating impact of rising temperatures. One documented the heat-related decline of birds in Panama, including the king quetzal, the red-crested quetzal, the two-coloured kingfisher and the aurora trogon. Another study published in 2017 showed how some tropical hummingbirds are now forced to seek shade to regulate their temperature in extreme heat, cutting into the amount of time they can spend searching for life-sustaining nectar. Extreme heat waves, which are becoming more frequent, represent a far greater threat than increases in average temperatures or rainfall, another result of human-induced climate change. Up to now, it has been assumed that the decline in bird populations worldwide was due mainly to other well-identified factors, especially habitat loss, pesticide use, hunting, and invasive species, especially snakes that snack on bird eggs and mosquitos carrying avian malaria. But the new findings 'challenge the view that direct human pressures have so far been the dominant driver of impacts on bird populations compared to climate change in tropical regions', according to the authors. To reach this conclusion, they analysed observational data from more than 3,000 bird populations around the world and used statistical modelling to isolate the effects of extreme weather from other factors. The findings help complete the picture of tropical bird decline, noted Dr Aimee Van Tatenhove, a post-doctoral fellow at Cornell University's Center for Avian Population Studies who was not involved in the study. 'Deforestation has an obvious impact – trees are cut and habitat is destroyed,' she told AFP. 'We need long-term datasets like the authors used to understand how extreme temperatures impact avian populations.' 'This study is an important reminder that we need to continue examining different causes of population declines and apply those findings to conservation initiatives,' she continued. AFP
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Business Standard
25-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Onion, potato prices went up over 80% in 2024 due to climate change: Study
Food prices in India saw a sharp rise in 2024 due to an unusually severe heatwave, with onion and potato prices jumping by more than 80 per cent in the second quarter of the year, according to a new study. The study, led by Maximilian Kotz of the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre and involving researchers from the European Central Bank, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the UK's Food Foundation, investigated 16 extreme weather-driven food price shocks across 18 countries between 2022 and 2024. It found that many of these events exceeded all historical precedents before 2020 and were strongly influenced by global warming. "In India, the price of onions and potatoes jumped by over 80 per cent in the second quarter of 2024 after a heatwave in May, a 'largely unique event' that was made at least 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer by climate change," the researchers said. The year 2024 was the hottest on record and the first with a global average temperature 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In India, extreme heat in May severely affected crop yields and supply chains, contributing to high inflation in essential vegetables. The study warned that such food price shocks could worsen health outcomes, including malnutrition and chronic diseases and increase economic inequality. "Rising food prices have direct implications for food security, particularly for low-income households... When the price of food shoots up, low-income families often have to resort to less nutritious, cheaper foods. Diets like this have been linked to a range of health conditions like cancer, diabetes and heart disease," Kotz said. The researchers said food price inflation due to climate extremes may also "raise headline inflation", making it harder for central banks to maintain price stability, especially in developing countries where food has a larger share in household budgets. "High rates of inflation can directly alter election outcomes... and boost support for extremist, anti-system and populist parties," the study said. The study said that in Ghana and Ivory Coast, global cocoa prices increased by around 280 per cent by April 2024 after a February heatwave. The heat was made 4 degrees Celsius hotter by climate change. In Brazil and Vietnam, heatwaves and drought led to a 55 per cent rise in Arabica coffee prices and a 100 per cent rise in Robusta prices. In the European Union, olive oil prices rose 50 per cent year-on-year by January 2024 after a drought in Spain and Italy. In the United States, vegetable prices increased by 80 per cent in November 2022 due to a drought in California and Arizona. The researchers called for urgent measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and warned that without climate action, such food shocks will become more frequent. "Until we get to net-zero emissions, extreme weather will only get worse and it is already damaging crops and pushing up the price of food all over the world," Kotz said. The study also recommended that governments and central banks use seasonal climate predictions to anticipate food price shocks and prepare targeted support. It cited an HSBC analysis showing that "temperatures are now a better metric for forecasting food prices across India compared to reservoir levels". The study was released ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake on July 27, co-hosted by Ethiopia and Italy, both of which also experienced food price shocks due to climate change. The researchers said food affordability must become a policy priority to prevent wider health and political impacts. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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First Post
22-07-2025
- Business
- First Post
Are your grocery bills rising? Barcelona researchers say they have found the reason
Have your grocery bills gone up? Besides the local inflation trends, researchers now point to a more potent disruptor — climate change — that is making your plate more expensive read more Consumers around the world may not realise that their rising grocery bills have less to do with local inflation or supply chain issues and more to do with extreme weather conditions globally. A new study from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, in collaboration with the European Central Bank, points to climate change as a critical driver of food price increases across continents. The research team traced spikes in food costs sometimes by hundreds of percent to weather patterns that are becoming more frequent and intense. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rather than isolated incidents, the researchers described these price shocks as directly linked to 16 extreme weather events between 2022 and 2024. The analysis, which appeared in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research Letters, emphasised that many of these events were statistically unprecedented in their regions. Max Kotz, the lead author and a postdoctoral fellow, noted that events like heatwaves, floods and droughts are now pushing agricultural systems beyond their limits. A global phenomenon with local consequences Across the globe, basic food items have surged in price following disruptive weather events. In the United States, vegetable prices soared more than 80 percent after California endured its driest three-year period ever recorded. The Bloomberg reported that nearly a million acres of farmland were left unplanted, causing crop losses of nearly $2 billion. Arizona's reduced water supply from the Colorado River compounded the crisis, while Hurricane Ian disrupted Florida's harvests. In Eastern Australia, record-breaking floods in early 2022 triggered a lettuce shortage that pushed prices up by more than 300 percent. The retail cost of iceberg lettuce skyrocketed from around A$2.80 to A$12. Some fast-food outlets even resorted to substituting cabbage in burgers to maintain menus. Similar trends were seen in Asia, where scorching heat reaching 115°F (46.1°C) led to a 40 per cent rise in Chinese vegetable prices over just three months. In South Korea, napa cabbage, vital for making kimchi — became 70 per cent more expensive. Local reports described government efforts to release national cabbage stocks to stabilise the market. Climate inflation: A persistent threat? While food prices often stabilise after temporary spikes, the researchers cautioned that climate-driven price hikes could become more routine. The authors suggested that El Nino patterns between 2023 and 2024 may have intensified certain weather extremes, but emphasised that the broader trend is one of increasing volatility. Kotz explained that price responses tend to materialise within one to two months after a climate event, especially when heat or drought significantly lowers output. While economists have pointed out that food prices often normalise as higher prices incentivise greater production, this cycle may not hold for all crops. For instance, commodities like coffee and beef are geographically limited, meaning that prices stay elevated longer and are more vulnerable to recurring disruptions. A compound effect on households and central banks These climate-linked price hikes are more than just inconvenient — they carry major implications for household budgets and monetary policy. According to the nonprofit Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, British households paid an additional £361 (approximately $484) for food in 2022 and 2023 due to climate-related factors. This figure highlights how vulnerable everyday consumers are to forces far beyond their control. With central banks around the world working to tame inflation, the unpredictable nature of climate-driven food prices poses a serious challenge. Kotz and his colleagues stressed that unless systemic changes are made, these shocks will continue to impact both consumer affordability and economic stability. The wider web of climate impacts on agriculture A broader look at climate change's effects on food prices reveals an interconnected series of pressures. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns reduce crop yields, while unpredictable growing seasons disrupt harvest timing. Water scarcity, a growing concern in regions like the American Southwest, limits irrigation and further diminishes supply. The resurgence of crop pests and plant diseases under warmer climates can force farmers to increase pesticide use, raising production costs. Meanwhile, extreme temperatures also affect livestock, reducing milk yields and increasing mortality rates further driving up the cost of meat and dairy products. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Infrastructure-related issues, like increased fuel prices or transportation disruptions due to weather events, add another layer of inflationary pressure. Even regulatory responses to climate change — such as stricter environmental rules or new tariffs — can raise operational costs that trickle down to the consumer. What can be done? The Barcelona study recommends a combination of early warning systems, agricultural adaptation strategies like improved irrigation, and robust government policies to mitigate food insecurity. However, the authors cautioned that even well-designed responses have limitations. Ultimately, the researchers suggested that the only long-term solution lies in addressing the root of the problem — greenhouse gas emissions. Without a concerted global effort to curb warming, extreme weather will continue to strain food production systems. As Stevenson pointed out, additional complications like tariffs can make it difficult for producers to balance domestic and export markets, especially for high-cost items like beef. He warned that future policy missteps could further strain an already fragile system. A new normal in the aisles For many consumers, the link between a heatwave in Asia or a drought in Arizona and the rising cost of a lettuce head may not be immediately obvious. But as the evidence mounts, researchers are urging governments and the public to recognise that climate change is not just an environmental issue — it's an economic one. Whether shopping in Barcelona, Beijing or Boston, grocery bills are increasingly influenced by forces in the sky and sea. Unless climate trends are reversed, experts say, the price of food will likely continue its upward climb. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Vancouver Sun
21-07-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
From potatoes to cocoa and coffee, severe weather spikes food prices worldwide, study finds
In 2021, crops withered as Western Canadian farmers faced the worst drought in 19 years. Wheat stocks dropped 38.7 per cent year over year in its wake. By April 2022, food manufacturers were paying more than double what they were in 2020, and that cost had trickled down to consumers. According to Statistics Canada , shoppers spent more on bread (+12.2 per cent), pasta (+19.6 per cent) and cereals (+13.9 per cent) than they had the year prior. This summer, conditions are worse for farmers in southwestern Saskatchewan. Some are comparing growing conditions to the ' Dirty Thirties ,' an extended drought that ravaged crops on the Prairies. Hit with wildfires, heat waves and drought, several rural municipalities have declared states of emergency, CTV News reports. Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The impact of severe weather on Canadian wheat prices is far from an isolated case. From Japanese rice to Spanish olive oil , countries around the world have experienced similar food price spikes resulting from extreme weather events, highlights new research by a team of international scientists led by Maximillian Kotz, a Marie Curie postdoctoral fellow at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center . Published in Environmental Research Letters , the study investigated 16 foods in 18 countries over two years (2022-2024). It found that foods affected by climatic extremes (heat, drought or floods) raised prices for consumers, contributed to overall inflation and could trigger societal risks. In 2023, Kotz led a statistical analysis for the European Central Bank examining the impact of increased temperatures on inflation. The researchers studied a global dataset of monthly consumer price indexes over the last 30 years to understand how prices respond to shifting conditions. 'What we found is very strong evidence that abnormally high temperatures drive increases in the price of food and overall inflation, and that therefore, under future climate change, with heat extremes intensifying, we're going to be expecting to see more and more of these kind of increases in consumer price indexes, broadly,' Kotz said in a media briefing on July 16, adding that these findings were the starting point for the new study. While their econometric analysis confirmed that severe weather results in higher food prices, changes in consumer price indexes typically happen slowly. In contrast, the cost of specific foods can spike within one to two months of extraordinarily high temperatures or droughts. 'What's been really interesting for us scientifically is that over the last year, what we've started to see is a number of examples from specific countries where climatic extremes have caused substantial spikes in the price of specific food goods. So, not just looking at the level of an aggregate consumer price index, but for specific goods.' For example, in a phenomenon dubbed 'heatflation,' South Korean cabbage prices rose 70 per cent last year amid hot weather and drought. With water temperatures rising, seafood prices also increased due to fewer catches. The researchers began their investigations by looking at media reports from 2020 to 2025, in which industry specialists and producers documented changes in food prices. They found instances around the world. 'Compared to our analysis with the European Central Bank, that was very much a statistical approach, this was more of a narrative-based approach, relying on these experts on the ground to connect food price spikes with adverse climatic conditions. And we can see that there's a broad global context for this happening in recent years that extends all the way from East Asia through to Europe and also to North America.' After finding evidence that food price shocks associated with extreme heat, drought or heavy precipitation are widespread, the researchers analyzed the climatic conditions driving them and compared them to historical patterns. Following a May 2024 heatwave in India , for example, onion and potato prices increased by 89 and 81 per cent respectively in the second quarter of the year. In California and Arizona, vegetable prices jumped by 80 per cent in November 2022 after a drought. Given that the U.S. supplies 67 per cent of Canada's vegetable imports and 36 per cent of fruit imports, according to Kushank Bajaj , a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of British Columbia (who wasn't involved in the study) and co-creator of Canada Food Flows , the impact on consumers clearly stretches across borders. The price fluctuations of commodities such as coffee, cocoa and olive oil travel even further. In Ivory Coast and Ghana, global cocoa prices soared 280 per cent in April 2024 following a heatwave two months earlier. A team of international scientists found that this 'dangerous humid heat' was roughly four degrees hotter due to climate change. In Vietnam, the world's biggest exporter of robusta coffee, prices increased 100 per cent in September 2024 after an August heatwave. And in Brazil, the leading exporter of arabica, prices were 55 per cent higher in August 2024 following a 2023 drought. 'What we were quite interested to see was that, particularly for East Asia, last summer, really, across the continent, from India to China, Korea, Japan, there were these spikes in the price of food happening as a result of temperatures that were completely unprecedented from a historical perspective,' said Kotz. The researchers also investigated the potential societal impacts of climate-induced food price spikes, including food security and public health. When food prices go up, fruit and vegetable consumption is 'very vulnerable,' underscored study co-author Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation . 'Food-insecure households are much more likely to report cutting back on fruit and veg purchases compared to food-secure households,' said Taylor. 'That really, really matters for health, because fruit and vegetables are sort of health-giving, if you like. They are massively important for immunity, but they also create long-term protections from a whole range of chronic conditions.' In addition to contributing to overall inflation, the authors identify political unrest as another potential societal risk. 'Our paper is really a call to action for us to consider these wider effects of food price increases in response to climate change for our societies more widely, as these effects are going to continue to become worse in the future,' said Kotz. A figure in the study maps the 16 examples of climate-induced food price spikes since 2022, colour coded by degree and type of event (heat, drought and floods). 'If you looked at Max's global picture, what you'd see through the eyes of an economist is well-functioning markets,' said Raj Patel, a member of the IPES-Food panel and a research professor at the University of Texas at Austin , who wasn't involved in the study. 'The weather turns, the crop becomes less likely to come out of the ground, and prices spike. But there is a political-economic consequence for that.' The researchers note that food price volatility has been linked to political instability throughout history, such as 2011's Arab Spring and the French and Russian revolutions of the 18th and 20th centuries. 'The meaning of food price inflation is political. It's always political,' said Patel. He cites Mozambique's 2010 bread riots , the roots of which were planted in Russia, where wildfires burned during the country's worst heatwave in more than a century. A lack of firefighting infrastructure made it difficult to put them out, and the country's main growing areas were decimated. As a result, Russia imposed an embargo on wheat exports, and global prices surged. People died due to the wildfires in Russia and during protests, sparked by sky-high bread prices, on the streets of Mozambique . 'This is how a heat spike in Russia can cause deaths by live ammunition in Mozambique,' adds Patel. 'These are the kinds of arcs that we need to be looking for when we understand climate change. Because climate change isn't just, 'Oh, it's hot outside.' Climate change is always freighted with a political valence.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our cookbook and recipe newsletter, Cook This, here .
National Post
21-07-2025
- Politics
- National Post
From potatoes to cocoa and coffee, severe weather spikes food prices worldwide, study finds
Article content Article content In addition to contributing to overall inflation, the authors identify political unrest as another potential societal risk. 'Our paper is really a call to action for us to consider these wider effects of food price increases in response to climate change for our societies more widely, as these effects are going to continue to become worse in the future,' said Kotz. Article content A figure in the study maps the 16 examples of climate-induced food price spikes since 2022, colour coded by degree and type of event (heat, drought and floods). Article content 'If you looked at Max's global picture, what you'd see through the eyes of an economist is well-functioning markets,' said Raj Patel, a member of the IPES-Food panel and a research professor at the University of Texas at Austin, who wasn't involved in the study. 'The weather turns, the crop becomes less likely to come out of the ground, and prices spike. But there is a political-economic consequence for that.' Article content The researchers note that food price volatility has been linked to political instability throughout history, such as 2011's Arab Spring and the French and Russian revolutions of the 18th and 20th centuries. Article content 'The meaning of food price inflation is political. It's always political,' said Patel. Article content He cites Mozambique's 2010 bread riots, the roots of which were planted in Russia, where wildfires burned during the country's worst heatwave in more than a century. A lack of firefighting infrastructure made it difficult to put them out, and the country's main growing areas were decimated. As a result, Russia imposed an embargo on wheat exports, and global prices surged. People died due to the wildfires in Russia and during protests, sparked by sky-high bread prices, on the streets of Mozambique. Article content 'This is how a heat spike in Russia can cause deaths by live ammunition in Mozambique,' adds Patel. 'These are the kinds of arcs that we need to be looking for when we understand climate change. Because climate change isn't just, 'Oh, it's hot outside.' Climate change is always freighted with a political valence.' Article content
