FAO and WMO Report: Rising Heat Poses
Major Threat to Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods
A joint report titled “Extreme Heat and Agriculture”
released by the FAO and the WMO warns that rising temperatures are posing a
serious threat to global agriculture and rural livelihoods.
Key Findings of the Report
¨ Extreme heat is described
as a “risk multiplier”, worsening droughts, water stress, wildfires, and pest
outbreaks, thereby intensifying agricultural vulnerability.
¨ In hot regions such as
South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Latin America, the number of days
too hot for safe farm work could rise to ~250 days per year by the end of the
century.
¨ Agricultural workers are
among the most vulnerable, with extreme heat already causing massive loss of
labour productivity and working hours globally.
¨
The report notes that
crop yields decline beyond ~30°C, while various livestock experience heat
stress above ~25°C, affecting food production systems.
¨ Over 1 billion people
dependent on agrifood systems are at risk due to increasing heat stress and
ecosystem disruption.
About the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO)
¨
FAO is a specialised UN
agency, established in 1945 and is headquartered in Rome, Italy.
¨
It has 194 member states,
along with the European Union as a member organization.
¨
FAO works to eliminate
hunger, improve nutrition, and ensure food security through policy support,
technical assistance, and research.
¨
It plays a key role in
global agricultural statistics, food monitoring, and sustainable farming
practices.
Important Reports/Indices
¨
State of Food Security
and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)
¨
State of Food and
Agriculture (SOFA)
¨
Food Price Index (FFPI)
¨
Global Forest Resources
Assessment (GFRA)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
¨ The World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) was established in 1950 and is headquartered in Geneva,
Switzerland.
¨ It provides early warning
systems, climate services, and disaster risk reduction support globally.
Important Reports/Initiatives
¨
State of the Global
Climate Report
¨ Greenhouse Gas Bulletin
¨ Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update
