IPCC Report

Topic: Environment

Context: Climate change induced droughts have been a major driver of food insecurity says IPCC Report.

Concept:

During 1983-2009, over 454 Mn ha of croplande., 3/4^th of the global harvested area (34% global calorie production) was devoured by Droughts and the production losses amounted to $166bn.
Similarly, extreme weather led to cereal production loss of 9-10%.
In this scenario, if Global warming over pre-industrial levels rises to 4⁰C from 1⁰C, rice production may decrease 30% (instead of 10%) and maize production to 70% (instead of 25%).
Further, Yield losses were about 25% and the losses in high-income countries (8-11%) were higher than in low-income countries.
The report says, from 2006-2016, droughts contributed to food insecurity and malnutrition in northern, eastern and southern Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
It also cautioned that overall irrigation water demand would increase by 2080.
Both food and the water sectors would be negatively impacted by global warming with higher risks at 2 °C than at 1.5°C.
Evidence of floods on food production was limited, as per the report.
While overall agricultural productivity has increased, climate change has slowed this growth over the past 50 years globally.
The impact on food availability and nutritional quality will increase the number of people at risk of hunger, malnutrition and diet-related mortality. This will particularly impact indigenous peoples, small-scale food producers and low-income households as well as children, elderly people and pregnant women.