The publication Special Report on Climate Change and Land (Special Report on Climate Change and Land) week past written by 107 experts from 52 countries by the Group Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC – Organization of the United Nations since 1988) has just given us a good smack to see if we wake up and start to take food production seriously worldwide.
Unlike most other documents on the environment or climate change, the IPCC does not focus mainly in the consumption of fossil fuels, the main source of greenhouse gas emissions caused by man, but in the management of the land.
And while greenhouse gas emissions are fundamental to any report on climate change, this "special report" examines other critical factors, in particular, the ability of the planet to feed itself myself.
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Broadly speaking, the report details how change Climate change is already threatening food and water supplies for humans: turning arable land into desert (desertification); degrading the soil; increasing the threat of droughts, floods and other phenomena weather.
A combination of factors that seriously threatens the crops and by effect, the food supply of the planet in a time when the world population is growing at a rate unstoppable (Currently 7.700 million to 9.700 million in 2050).
But, to better understand what's going on with "security food" we will have to look at the following graphs to worldwide…
The Earth is becoming more and more populated (the estimate, at the end of this century could exceed 11,000 million people) and therefore more food is needed which will undoubtedly linked to agricultural production.
The attached graph of the report establishes that 23% of all greenhouse gases greenhouse that man expels come from agriculture, the forestry and land use.
In addition, if emissions associated with the production are added world food market, this share can reach up to 37%.
See also article of interest on why concrete is the most destructive material on earth from a perspective environmental.
We need to use more and more land to produce more food with the problem that it is not being used properly sustainably affecting natural ecosystems.
The change of use of land and the rapid intensification of land use have contributed to increased production of food, feed and fibers.
Since 1961, total food production (food crops) cereals) has increased by 240% (until 2017) due to the expansion of the earth's surface and the increase in yields. Fiber production (cotton) increased by 162% (until 2013).
To have a higher production, the use of fertilizers is has shot like water. About 70% of consumption of fresh water goes to agriculture.
According to the report, the climate change with agricultural intensification is contributing to an acceleration of desertification and land degradation worldwide.
Point 1 of the super ascending graph is the population by areas affected by desertification and the 3rd that is going decline, the extent of continental wetlands. Further Of course, impossible!
Of interest, from this article to see the tool interactive mapping to study the changes climatic.
Land provides the main foundation for livelihood and human well-being including the supply of food, fresh water and many other ecosystem services, as well as the biodiversity.
Human use of land directly affects more than 70% (between 69-76%) of the world's land surface, free of ice. And it also plays an important role in the system climate.
If we look at the following two graphs, the ratio of symbiosis, it's there…
And the relationship between climate disturbances and food price increases can be identified in the following scheme…
According to the authors of the report (Here I access part of the report of the IPCC on "food security"), it is increasingly difficult to produce food in the face of increased droughts, wildfires, heat waves, floods and the thawing permafrost.
If to this, we add the increasing amounts of carbon dioxide carbon in the atmosphere, which decrease the quality of the food that is produced, it is evident that we are heading towards a future in which there is even less food to distribute, which means that the food that is available will cost more.
“A particular danger is that food crises may develop on several continents at the same time," said Cynthia Rosenzweig, a principal investigator at the Goddard Institute for NASA Space Studies and one of the main authors of the report.
Y to confirm the connection. The report leaves us different maps to see the interrelationships worldwide…
The IPCC highlights that climate change is already having impacts on “food security” as they are changing precipitation patterns and increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events that damage crops.
The projections are not good for Spain... «It is expected that the frequency and intensity of droughts increase particularly in the Mediterranean region and southern Africa'. to take note!
And another of the important consequences that have already been discussed in this other report published by the Human Rights Council Human Rights of the UN, will be the increase of the difference between the developed countries and not.
The strongest economies will be able to invest in trying to alleviate environmental impacts on their territories while the weakened economies will have serious problems (See article complementary to why combat climate change indebtedness to developing countries).
Just like the gap between rich and poor that will make the difference even more, as many people will be left without the means to escape the worst effects of the crisis (By the way, they call this "Apartheid climate»).
That will increase an immigration flow that is already redefining politics in North America, Europe and other parts of the world..."People's lives will be affected by a massive pressure for migration»
But… can we do something to start improving? Well yes, and The IPCC report itself proposes a strategic picture of objectives with priorities that should be applied from now on…
The report raises the need for a rapid response to the challenge of climate change... «Delaying action (...) could lead to some irreversible impacts. And this in turn would generate more greenhouse gases that would further heat plus the planet. A global focus on sustainability, together with early action, offers the best opportunities for address climate change.
By the way, at the time we already talked about how diet affects climate change by a report issued by the FAO.
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