Where are food supplies most at risk from climate change?

Climate change is set to have a major impact on global food security, as weather patterns and average temperatures change.

Studies have highlighted the potential impact on food supplies in Africa, but as the following map shows, it is a global challenge. The map uses data from the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index, which assesses the ability of economies around the world to deal with the effects of climate change across a number of indicators. These include food vulnerability, measured using food production, food demand, nutrition and rural population figures.

The map makes clear the challenge faced by nations across Africa, with much of the continent’s food highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. However, across much of South-East Asia and the Americas, the world’s changing climate also presents a threat to food supplies.

At the other end of the scale, many European nations have low vulnerability scores, with Andorra, Germany and Poland the world’s three least vulnerable countries.

But none of these countries returned perfect scores, demonstrating that all nations must work together to ensure global climate change policy recognizes the risk of increased food scarcity.

Have you read?
How can we help farmers adapt to climate change?
Why climate change is an opportunity for Africa

To keep up with the Agenda subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Author: Joe Myers is a Digital Content Producer at Formative Content. 

Image: Wheat is seen in a field. REUTERS/Vincent Mundy