Washington, D.C. — Fossil fuel-induced climate change is destabilizing agriculture and food supply chains around the world and increasing grocery prices for Americans, according to a new report from the Center for American Progress.
The report shows how extreme weather events triggered by climate change can increase food costs by destroying crops and slashing agricultural yields. At the same time, fossil fuel price spikes can travel down the food supply chain and further increase food costs.
Due in part to extreme weather in the United States, coffee, meat, and sweets are among the items experiencing the most significant spikes this year. Extreme weather has hurt U.S. crop production as well, while droughts in California and Arizona helped drive U.S. vegetable producer prices 80 percent higher between November 2021 and 2022.
Extreme weather across the globe has strained food supply and further increased consumer prices in the United States. These extreme weather events worsen food insecurity and access for working-class Americans.
The report offers recommendations for how federal and state officials can ease rising food costs:
- Invest in clean energy deployment and decarbonization across major greenhouse gas-emitting U.S. sectors, including for agricultural production and processes.
- Increase funding in research and development and in federal disaster resilience, adaptation, and climate-smart agricultural programs.
- Protect U.S. agriculture from financial headwinds by supporting small-scale American farmers and improving the transparency of crop insurance programs.
- Protect long-standing food assistance programs that help working-class Americans and children on the brink of hunger.
Read the report: “How Fossil Fuels and Global Extreme Weather Increase Americans’ Food Prices” by Jasia Smith, Kalina Gibson, and Margaret Cooney
For more information, or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].