Climate Change: Global Food Supply May be Threatened by Cutting Carbon

Cutting carbon emissions is important in the face of climate change. As more and more carbon is released into the atmosphere, temperatures heat up. Now, though, scientists have warned that cutting these emissions may have indirect effects on the world's food supply.

Previous studies have shown that climate change reduces how much food that farms can produce. This, in turn, may result in more people suffering from hunger. However, curbing the greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate change can help maintain yields of existing crops.

With that said, there may be indirect ways in which cutting emissions could put food supplies at risk. Some grasses and other vegetation used for biofuels require agricultural land that might otherwise be used for food production, as an example. In addition, the high cost of low-emissions technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, will largely be borne by consumers. This will cause them, in turn, to have less money to spend on food.

In order to see if this could happen, the researchers used multiple models to determine the effects of strict emission cuts. They found that many more people would be at risk of hunger than if cuts weren't in place. This means that when cuts are made, officials should be aware of the necessity of possibly increasing food aid.

With that said, this study doesn't recommend not making carbon cuts. However, it's crucial to note what measures need to be taken in order to make this type of transition viable.

The findings are published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

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