Climate Change and Food Security

Abstract

This paper explores the global trends associated with food security and climate change and the linkages between them. This comes at a time of unprecedented international concern for global food security, against a backdrop of dramatically fluctuating world food prices. Underlying the food security issue is a trend of rapidly growing populations in many developing countries, and projected changes in food production dynamics associated with a warming and drying climate for many regions during the 21st century. This paper looks into demand and supply trends associated with world food security, in an effort to inform a coordinated policy response to this emerging crisis. The final sections of the paper explore the implications for New Zealand, and then reflect on options for a broader global policy response.