Increases in global temperatures will lead to changes in the environment's ability to support the growth of crops, livestock and fish. For example, changes to seasons, rainfall and ocean temperatures impact the environment's capacity to support agriculture. Further, climate change is likely to lead to higher frequencies of extreme events, such as flooding. These extreme events impact can damage, or reduce the capacity of, farmland. Changes to the distribution of pests and disease in response to changing temperature patterns is also likely to impact agriculture.
Food production is a key contributer to climate change (see this link). However, food production is also very sensitive to the impacts of climate change.
Increases in global temperatures as a result of climate change impacts on earth's three systems: land, oceans and the atmosphere. All of these systems have a key relationship with our food systems: the land or oceans to support the growth of crops, livestock and fish, the water cycle, soils to provide nutrients, and CO2 as an input in crop growth are examples of such relationships. Any changes to earth's key systems are therefore likely to have impacts on food production and food security: ensuring the population has access to food in sufficient quantities and nutrients to support itself.
The impacts of any changes to food security are not likely to be evenly distributed around the world: poorer countries are less able to adapt to reductions in access to food through imports, the application of technology or absorbing increased costs of production.
