Climate change threatens to raise food prices in Britain 30% by 2050

Britain faces the risk of the climate crisis exacerbating the repercussions of weather extremism, which may lead to increased food prices by more than a third by 2050.

In this context, the “Autonomi” Institute, a research center, sounded the alarm about the financial influence in British families, warning that increases in the prices of foodstuffs caused by climate change may push nearly a million people to poverty in the absence of urgent government interference.

The institute added that the United Kingdom is at increased risk, especially because of the heat waves and droughts, to disrupt food production and supply chains abroad and inside, which will negatively affect consumers through high prices in stores.

Official figures, issued earlier this month, showed that the main inflation rate in the United Kingdom increased by more than 3.6% in June, as fuel prices and foodstuffs increased the pressure on families.

The major retail companies in Britain have warned that hot and dry weather is reduced by fruit and vegetable crops, which increased the inflation rate last month.

The price of chocolate also increased on the shelves of the major stores in the United Kingdom due to the weak crops associated with maximum temperatures in West Africa, while coffee prices rose due to bad weather that affected production in Brazil and Vietnam.

Based on climate data, analyzing international and local trade flows, and economic modeling, “Autonomi” researchers concluded that the increase in heat and drought waves would put the basic crops at risk, disrupt supply chains, and increase the pressure of inflation.

Scientists say that the climate collapse caused by burning fossil fuels means the possibility of more frequent floods and drought in the United Kingdom, and food prices around the world have been affected by the weak crops, conflicts and commercial wars launched by US President Donald Trump.

Given that nearly half of the foods consumed in Britain is imported from abroad, British families are highly vulnerable to climate shocks that affect grocery prices from major producers in countries such as Spain, France and Brazil, and local agriculture is under pressure, as storms and floods reduce the production of vegetables in the United Kingdom by 12% in 2023.

The report warned that the high temperatures, which affect the major food producers in Europe and abroad, constitutes a great danger to the British family’s finances, and said that by 2050, and in light of the “worst scenario” for high emissions, food prices may increase by 34%.

In light of the “best scenario”, as the global temperature is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100, instead of four degrees Celsius in the worst scenarios, the report warned that cumulative inflation in food prices may reach 25% by 2050.

The British -low -income family will be improperly affected because it spends a greater share of its monthly budget on basic commodities such as bread, rice and meat.

He stated that the heat waves in the United Kingdom as one of the many factors that cause climate inflation may cost the medium family between 917 and 1247 pounds by 2050.

“Otenumi” warned that if the government does not make efforts to alleviate the high prices by 34% on the British, about a million additional people may enter “poverty”.

The CEO of the “Autonomi” Institute, Will Strong, urged the ministers to consider a set of measures to protect the British, including providing public restaurants to mitigate the impact of the volatility of food prices on weak groups.

It can also be seen in imposing price controls, while the UK may consider providing “backup stocks” of major goods to ensure their availability during supply chains’ disorders.

“Climate inflation is no longer a distant danger, it is a current reality,” Strong added, continuing: “We need to build real economic flexibility, and this means rethinking what public services can provide and what it should provide in the face of climate turmoil from communicating basic necessities to restaurants funded from the public sector, and providing a national reserve stock.” On the “Guardian”

. The heat waves in the United Kingdom may cost the medium family between 917 and 1247 pounds by 2050.

. In the event that the government does not make efforts to alleviate the high prices by 34% for the British, about a million people may enter “poverty”.