On October 13, 2016, Nick Lavars from New Atlas wrote a piece on the effects of climate change on food; instead of the expected exploration of devastation of climate change on food security, this article discussed the possible ways that this global issue has a silver lining. With the advent of the negative impacts of global climate change starting to set in, people are very concerned about the future possibilities of food insecurity; the stakes are especially high as the human population continues to grow, and more available food will be necessary to support the increase. This is made difficult by the impending heating, "storms...droughts, and floods" that will impact the way our agricultural systems function and plants grow (Lavars). For instance, Iowan corn cannot reproduce if it has to withstand more than 3 days of 95-degree heat during the summer; however, scientists predict that by 2040 such heat waves will occur in "three summers out of four," if the predicted heating trajectory continues (Hertsgaard). This could be a very serious issue, especially for Americans who have a profound interdependence on the crop (Pollan 23). Although there are severe implications of climate change on many of the crops that we depend on, there may actually be some regions of the world that benefit from climate change: for one, Ethiopia. "A new study closely examining its effects on Ethiopia's Blue Nile Basin has uncovered exactly that in the form of projected increases in rainfall, which could spur greater crop yields and large-scale hydro-power projects in the region." An increased access to water is very significant for the agriculture of this region, especially since Africa is often known for its arid, dry seasons. It would allow for longer growing seasons and thus increased crop yields, but this gain doesn't come without costs. Increased rainfall means increased erosion in the Blue Nile Basin, which would "reduce the capacity and efficiency of dams, reservoirs and hydro-power projects" (Lavars). This presents an interesting question; in which industries can we best reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change? It's a consideration that challenges our priorities in regards to how we think about people in their environments. Feeding the world is prioritized over all else in most cases; it is number 2 in the UN's list of Sustainable Development Goals. As a subcategory of agriculture in general, "livestock production generates nearly a fifth of the world's greenhouse gases" (Bittman). So as climate change creates obstacles in achieving the goal of feeding the world, and food creates problems regarding climate change, this paradox opens opportunities to creatively solve complex issues - and it creates even more. As with the Ethiopian example, while we will be able to grow more food in this region, efforts at using sustainable energy sources to reduce our climate impact might be thwarted. The complexity of such negative feedback loops is what makes climate change such a daunting issue. Finding ways to feed the world and addressing climate issues go hand-in-hand, and they are priorities for everyone who has to share this Earth. Works Cited Bittmann, Mark. "Rethinking the Meat-Guzzler." The New York Times, 27 January 2008.
Hertsgaard, Mark. "How To Feed the World After Climate Change." Slate, 6 August 2013. Lavars, Nick. "Climate change might turn Ethiopia into a food-exporting nation." New Atlas. 14 October 2016.
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