Rome/Geneva (FAO/WMO) - Extreme heat events threaten the livelihoods, health and labour productivity of over a billion people. Agricultural workers and agrifood systems are on the frontlines.
The frequency, intensity and duration of extreme heat events have risen sharply over the past half century, and the risks to agrifood systems and ecosystems are set to soar in the future, according to " Extreme heat and agriculture ," a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
"This work highlights how extreme heat is a major risk multiplier, exerting mounting pressure on crops, livestock, fisheries and forests, and on the communities and economies that depend upon them." said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.
"Extreme heat is increasingly defining the conditions under which agrifood systems operate," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
"More than simply an isolated climatic hazard, it acts as a compounding risk factor that magnifies existing weaknesses across agricultural systems. Early warnings and climate services like seasonal outlooks are vital to help us adapt to the new reality," she said.
The joint FAO-WMO report describes the physical science of extreme heat, the vulnerabilities, observed and projected impacts on agriculture, adaptation strategies, case studies, and offers policy recommendations.
It was released for Earth Day, which falls on 22 April, highlighting the interconnections between our changing climate, food security, agrisystem and ecosystem health.
