economy can afford according to a recent report from the Universal Ecological Fund. Transcript: Human-induced climate change costs more than the U.S. This week’s On The Radio segment discusses the growing economic consequence of climate change. (Puerto Rico National Guard/ flickr) Jenna Ladd | October 30, 2017
Members of the the National Guard in Puerto Rico work to clear roads after Hurricane María devastated the island. Cacao farmers are adapting to drought and temperature spikes by selectively breeding more drought resistant crops and planting cacao trees under taller rainforest trees for shade cover. Rising temperatures and less rainfall may push cocoa growing operations in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana up some 800 feet in elevation in order to keep up with demand, according to NOAA.įor its part, Rabinovitch explained that Mars is taking steps to reduce carbon emissions from its products by 67 percent before 2050. Kevin Rabinovitch, a spokesperson for Mars, Incorporated, told Yale’s Climate Connections, “As temperatures rise and rainfall patterns change, some of the current cocoa-producing regions may become less suitable for producing cocoa.” About two-thirds of the world’s chocolate comes from Western Africa, where precipitation is not increasing to offset the effects of a hotter climate and drought has been a major problem in recent years. It’s not necessarily the heat that will hurt cacao trees, it’s a decrease in humidity. If the climate change continues unabated, these regions of the world are expected to warm by 3.8☏ before 2050. Most of the world’s chocolate comes from cocoa beans grown in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Indonesia. This part of the world provides little temperature variability, lots of humidity and rain, nitrogen-rich soils and protection from wind that cacao trees need to thrive.
While Halloween may feel like business-as-usual tonight in Iowa, chocolate producers across the globe are feeling the heat of climate change.Ĭhocolate is made from cocoa beans, which can only be cultivated very close to the Earth’s equator. Trick-or-treaters will bound from door-to-door this evening hoping to take home one of the world’s sweetest treats: chocolate. (Rain/ flickr) Jenna Ladd | October 31, 2017 Cacao trees do best within about 20 degrees of the equator.
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