Bangladesh flagged as high-risk country as inflation, diet-related diseases rise
A sweeping international study has revealed that climate change-induced extreme weather events are wreaking havoc on global food production, sending prices soaring and amplifying health risks—particularly in vulnerable countries like Bangladesh.
The landmark research, led by the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre and supported by top institutions including the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, ICREA, the European Central Bank, University of Aberdeen, ECIU, and The Food Foundation, examined 16 extreme weather events across 18 countries between 2022 and 2024. The results show a direct link between climate shocks and food price volatility.
With heatwaves, droughts, and floods becoming more frequent and intense, the impact on food systems has been profound. The report, released just days ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake on July 27, warns that such disruptions are rapidly becoming the new normal.
Global food crises worsen
In the UK, potato prices surged by 22% in early 2024 after excessive winter rainfall — a climate-driven event scientists say was ten times more likely due to global warming. In the U.S., a severe drought in California and Arizona led to an 80% spike in vegetable prices in late 2022.
Africa was hit hard as well. Ethiopia experienced the worst drought in four decades in 2023, driving food prices up 40%. Climate models estimate that global warming made the event 100 times more likely. Similarly, olive oil prices jumped 50% in Spain and Italy, cocoa prices soared 280% in Ghana and Ivory Coast, and Robusta coffee prices doubled in Vietnam.
In South Asia, India saw potato and onion prices rise more than 80% after a devastating May 2024 heatwave. In Pakistan, catastrophic monsoon flooding in 2022 pushed rural food prices up by 50%. Japan, South Korea, and Mexico also saw sharp spikes in staple prices due to drought and extreme heat.
Bangladesh in the red zone
Bangladesh is among the countries most acutely affected. A recent World Bank report placed the country in its ‘red’ category for food inflation risk — a status it has held for nearly two years. This classification includes countries with food inflation rates between 5% and 30%.
Food inflation in Bangladesh has been persistently high for nearly three years. For ten consecutive months, it remained above 10%, briefly dipping in February before rising again. In July 2024, it reached 14.10%, the highest level in 13 years. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics reports that from April 2024 to March 2025, average food inflation stood at 10.44%.
“This kind of prolonged hardship is unprecedented,” said an economist in Dhaka. “Fixed- and low-income families are bearing the brunt, cutting back on healthier food options just to survive.”
Health risks intensify
The nutritional fallout is also becoming increasingly visible. According to The Food Foundation, healthy foods are now twice as expensive per calorie as less nutritious alternatives, forcing families to reduce their intake of fruits and vegetables. This has triggered a rise in diet-related diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular illnesses, and certain cancers.
“Until we achieve net-zero emissions, extreme weather will only intensify,” warned Dr. Max Kotz of the Potsdam Institute. “It’s already damaging crops and driving up costs globally. Food inflation is now the second most visible sign of climate change, after extreme heat.”
Amber Sawyer of ECIU added: “Climate extremes have added £360 to the average UK household’s food bill in just two years. For farmers, this is not a future concern — they’re dealing with record heat, floods, and failed harvests today.”
A warning for the future
The planet has already warmed by 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels, and without drastic emissions cuts, the world is headed toward a 3°C rise — a scenario scientists say would be catastrophic for global food security.
With 2023 and 2024 already marked as the two hottest years in recorded history, experts fear 2025 will continue the trend, solidifying climate change as one of the most urgent threats to food systems worldwide.
