The IPCC warns significant risks to global supply chains are growing from the damaging effects of climate change.

The Working Group II report is the second instalment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), which is set to complete later this year. This impact will be another climate change consequence that is set to be widespread and systemic.

Moreover, climate change will increasingly put pressure on food production and access, especially in vulnerable regions, undermining food security and nutrition. It sees increases in frequency, intensity and severity of droughts, floods and heatwaves, and continued sea level rise will increase risks to food security in vulnerable regions from moderate to high between 1.5°C and 2°C global warming level, with no or low levels of adaptation.

In addition to this, the report said that damage to food storage, caused by electricity failures, and to transport routes could decrease the availability and increase the cost of twenty-two highly perishable, nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, and dairy.

At 2°C or higher global warming level in the mid-term, food security risks due to climate change will be more severe, leading to malnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies, concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Central and South America and Small Islands.

Hoesung Lee, Chair, IPCC, said:

 “It shows that climate change is a grave and mounting threat to our wellbeing and a healthy planet. Our actions today will shape how people adapt and nature responds to increasing climate risks.”