Food Prices to rise as Weather Worsens
Research from Oxfam has revealed that extreme weather conditions caused by climate change are likely to raise food prices, as crop yields across the world are damaged.
It is claimed by the charity that the implications climate change is having on the future of food prices is being widely underestimated, and has warned that worldwide communities are likely to become more vulnerable to events such as the droughts in West Africa and the USA throughout 2012.
The report from Oxfam has claimed that in the event of a drought in the USA in 2030, the price of maize would be raised by 140pc over and above the average price of food, which would already likely be around double today’s prices.
Higher than average rainfall within the UK over the summer months meant that harvests of potatoes were damaged, and this meant that supermarkets and retailers were forced to raise the prices of products containing the vegetable. However the report warns that while weather at home can cause food prices to rise, due to the amount we import in the UK, it is more extreme weather across the globe that can have larger effects on prices at home.
Climate change policy advisor at Oxfam, Tim Gore, said: “Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns hold back crop production, and can cause steady price rises. But extreme weather events like the current US drought can wipe out entire harvests and trigger dramatic food price rises”.
Share this..
Related stories
British Energy In Takeover Talks
In a move which will infuriate consumer groups it has been reported that a joint bid by Centrica and Electricite de France could see British Energy become the next UK power supplier to bite the dust and move into foreign hands. While nothing has been agreed as yet the management of British Energy has confirmed that they are in discussions about a possible £12 billion takeover.
Thi...
UK workers see incomes fall in real terms
Even though the politicians and economists are not overly concerned about the recent rise in inflation to around 3.4%, from there are serious concerns about falling incomes in the UK in real terms. A monthly survey from Incomes Data Services has confirmed that the average UK wage increase by just 0.1% last month to an annual rate of 1.9%. This is well below the 3.4% rate of inflation and consequen...
Read MoreHow much has the MPs expenses system cost the UK taxpayer?
As the UK MPs expenses system continues to come under severe pressure and focus from the authorities there are concerns as to how much the whole system has cost UK taxpayers over the last 20 years. When you consider that literally millions upon millions of pounds of expenses claimed over the last five years have caused so much heartache and concern in the UK, how is this situation looking over the...
Read MoreEnergy bills are biggest worry to homeowners
04/08/2014 Energy bills are the biggest worry to European homeowners, ahead of rent and mortgage repayments, a survey of 17,000 households has revealed. The survey on attitudes to home improvement, which was conducted by DIY retail group Kingfisher, revealed that 31% of European homeowners intended to introduce measures to cut their energy bills. This means that energy efficiency is now t...
Read MorePrice of rail tickets to fall next year
The UK government has today confirmed that regulated train routes will see season tickets fall by around 0.4% next year as the retail price index remains in negative territory. While this is a very well received development for UK travellers it places yet more pressure on the UK rail network with more investment required and costs continuing to mushroom. So who will pay the shortfall?
Read More