Climate Change and Food Security

Climate change and agriculture are interrelated processes both of which take place on a global scale. Global warming is projected to have significant impacts on conditions affecting agriculture including temperature carbon dioxide glacial run-off precipitation and the interaction of these elements. These conditions determine the carrying capacity of the biosphere to produce enough food for the human population and domesticated animals. The overall effect of climate change on agriculture will depend on the balance of these effects. Assessment of the effects of global climate changes on agriculture might help to properly anticipate and adapt farming to maximize agricultural production. At the same time agriculture has been shown to produce significant effects on climate change primarily through the production and release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide methane and nitrous oxide but also by altering the Earth’s land cover which can change its ability to absorb or reflect heat and light thus contributing to radiative forcing. Sustained and systematic attention is crucial if we are to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe — A 2009 ICTSD-IPC study by Jodie Keane suggests that climate change could cause farm output in sub-Saharan Africa to decrease by 12 percent by 2080 although in some African countries this figure could be as much as 60 percent with agricultural exports declining by up to one fifth in others. Adapting to climate change could cost the agriculture sector $14bn globally a year the study finds. The book has a comprehensive account of the climate change with possible projections on food security in the world. Global scenario of extreme climatic events and the corresponding probable climatic parameters in the years to come are discussed elaborately. Contents: • Introduction • Historical Perspective • Responses to Global Warming • Governmental and Intergovernmental Action • Challenges to Achieving Food Security • Climate Change and Agriculture • Global Food Security under Climate Change • Climate Change and World Food Supply • The World Food Trade Model • Fisheries and Climate Change • The Climate Change - Agriculture Conundrum • Impact of Climate Change on Indian Agriculture • Effects on the Regional Vegetation-atmosphere Water Vapour Exchange