The US has been experiencing a lot of economic struggles as of late, and increased prices for vegetables just add to the pile. According to reports, vegetables have seen a 40% increase in price, and experts say that climate change may be the reason for it.
Eating Healthy Won't Be Cheap
Arizona supplies around 90% of the leafy greens in the US spanning from November to March every year. It has become concerning now that the supplier of the vast majority of green vegetables is running low.
Due to the low supply of agriculture, inflation has been at an all-time high in 40 years. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, November has seen a 38.1% increase in the cost of production. That's 7.4% higher than the percentage last year in the same month.
It's Not a Hoax After All
Somehow, many people still deny the possibility of climate change in the present, but it rears its head in the form of drought. The water levels in the Colorado River have been apparent lately, which has affected crop production, as mentioned by Gizmodo.
The mentioned river has been in trouble for quite some time, experiencing its 23rd year of drought and becoming the most endangered river in 2022. This has resulted in the US restricting about 20% of the water supply provided to the farmers in Arizona.
California has also experienced losses due to the drought which amounted to $3 billion. After two hurricanes hit Florida, the impact on its agriculture also cost the US $2 billion. President of the State Board of Food and Agriculture Don Cameron said that there's just not enough water anymore.
Natural Calamities May Worsen
Climate change will not only affect crops but every aspect of the environment, especially if the rate at which humans use or misuse natural resources continues. The US has experienced its warmest temperature in this decade.
Extreme weather could also damage certain industries like agriculture and aquaculture. According to Global Change, heat waves now occur more frequently and intensely, especially out in the West. This could cause more consecutive droughts and affect the water supply.
This goes for hurricanes as well, as the country has seen an increase in the frequency and duration of Northern Atlantic hurricanes. The impact of hurricanes has been reflected in the $2 billion dollar loss of Florida in produce.
Oceans are slowly becoming acidic as it absorbs around 25% of the carbon emissions caused by humans. Not only will this endanger marine life, but it will also slowly impact seafood supplies, further adding to the list of shortages.
Oceans are beginning to rise too. Since 1880, the sea level has risen by around eight inches. It could potentially rise from one to four feet before the end of this century. This could lead to the erosion of lands and the flooding of previously fertile farmlands.
These natural events will affect the lands and waters where the human supply comes from. As scarcity becomes more frequent, inflation will continue to affect the economy and will do so at a rate that will be hard to adapt to.
