Climate change is threatening the traditional gift of chocolates on Valentine’s Day due to extreme weather conditions affecting cocoa harvests. A report from Christian Aid revealed a staggering 400% increase in cocoa prices caused by climate-induced challenges. Ghana and Ivory Coast, significant cocoa producers, are particularly affected by rising temperatures and erratic rainfall, leading to substantial crop losses. Urgent action and financial support for cocoa farmers are necessary to combat these ongoing challenges.
Campaigners have issued a warning that climate change poses a significant threat to the traditional gift of chocolates on Valentine’s Day. A report by charity Christian Aid highlights that extreme weather conditions are adversely impacting cocoa harvests in major producing nations, leading to rising prices and uncertainty for farmers. The report indicates that global cocoa prices have surged by 400% due to last year’s droughts, floods, and climate-related diseases that severely affected cocoa availability on international markets, resulting in smaller chocolate bars.
The report elaborates that rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns have hit key cocoa-producing countries, particularly Ghana and Ivory Coast, which together account for over 50% of global cocoa production. The issues became evident in 2023 when unusual heavy rains during the dry season in Ghana caused black pod disease, leading to significant crop losses. This was soon followed by a severe drought in 2024, impacting over a million individuals and exacerbating record-high food prices—a situation amplified by climate change.
In conjunction with Christian Aid’s findings, a separate study by Climate Central confirms that West Africa’s cocoa-producing region, which includes Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Nigeria, is experiencing increased temperatures due to climate change. Analysis over the past decade shows that rising temperatures have added several weeks each year of extreme heat during the cocoa growing season. In 2024, the effects of climate change resulted in six additional weeks of temperatures exceeding 32 degrees Celsius in 71% of cocoa-producing areas, negatively affecting both the quality and quantity of the cocoa crop.
Notably, the impact of climate change is not confined to West Africa. Cocoa farmers in other regions, such as Amelia Pop Chocoj in Guatemala, report severe damage to their crops due to water shortages. Pop Chocoj stated, “The cocoa trees are dying, which are usually very resilient. I’m actually not worried that it ‘may’ happen, it’s happening already”. This highlights the urgent need for financial assistance to help farmers adapt to adverse changes.
Christian Aid advocates for significant action to reduce emissions from fossil fuels and other sources that contribute to rising temperatures. Additionally, they emphasize the necessity for targeted financial support for cocoa farmers to enable adaptation to the changing climate. UK chocolatiers have echoed these concerns, citing the risk of small manufacturers being driven out of business by ongoing climate impacts and the effects of global weather phenomena such as El Nino and La Nina. Andy Soden from Kernow Chocolate remarked that the wholesale cost of chocolate is poised to match the 2023 retail price, suggesting widespread ramifications for the chocolate industry.
Osai Ojigho, Director of Policy and Public Campaigns at Christian Aid, emphasized the importance of cocoa farming for the livelihoods of many impoverished individuals, noting that climate change is endangering their livelihoods. She asserted, “We need to see emissions cut, and targeted climate finance going to cocoa growers to help them adapt.”
In summary, climate change presents a considerable threat to the cocoa industry, significantly impacting chocolate production and the livelihoods dependent on it. Reports indicate that extreme weather conditions are causing price surges and crop shortages in key cocoa-producing regions. Urgent action is required to address emissions and provide support to farmers adapting to these changes. The future of chocolate, a traditional gift, hinges on global efforts to combat climate change effectively.
Original Source: www.irishnews.com
