The Impact Of Climate Change On Agriculture

The unimpeded growth of greenhouse gas emissions is raising the earth’s temperature. The consequences include melting glaciers, more precipitation, more and more extreme weather events, and shifting seasons. The accelerating pace of climate change, combined with global population and income growth, threatens food security everywhere. Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change. Higher temperatures eventually reduce yields of desirable crops while encouraging weed and pest proliferation. Changes in precipitation patterns increase the likelihood of short-run crop failures and long-run production declines. Although there will be gains in some crops in some regions of the world, the overall impacts of climate change on agriculture are expected to be negative, threatening global food security. This paper provides an insight into the different climate change-related challenges that the agricultural sector will face and explores opportunities for emission reductions and adaptation. Agriculture has not figured very prominently in the climate discussion so far. This paper clearly indicates that the sector deserves more attention when it comes to both climate change threats and opportunities. Understanding interrelations and interactions in the agricultural sector and considering its implications for development cooperation is crucial for adequate development responses.