Climate change brings a cascade of risks from physical impacts to ecosystems, agro-ecosystems, agricultural production, food chains, incomes and trade, with economic and social impacts on livelihoods and food security and nutrition. The people who are projected to suffer the earlier and the worst impacts from climate change are the most vulnerable populations, with livelihoods depending on agriculture sectors in areas vulnerable to climate change.
For instance, the crop yield potential for maize has decreased considerably since the 80s with the highest decrease being in the temperate regions .
Open the Change in Crop Yield Potential infographic (from Lancet).
Countries face increasing climate variability and more frequent climate extremes, linked in part to climate change. The number of low- and middle-income countries exposed to climate extremes has steadily been on the rise over the past twenty years, from 76 percent of countries in 2000–2004 to 98 percent in 2015–2020.
More strikingly, countries’ exposure to climate extremes has significantly magnified in terms of intensity (three or four types of climate extremes in a five-year period) (FAO 2001)
Credit: USDA