Climate
change is an escalating global threat, and the Philippines is no exception.
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, January
2024 was the warmest January ever recorded globally, with an average surface
air temperature of 13.14°C, 0.70°C above the 1991–2020 average, and 1.66°C
above pre-industrial levels.
In the Philippines, agriculture is crucial to the economy but increasingly vulnerable to climate change. The country depends heavily on food imports, particularly rice and wheat, to meet domestic demand. Climate change intensifies this reliance by increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events like typhoons, droughts, and floods. For example, in 2024, the Philippines faced five major typhoons within three weeks, displacing millions and causing significant agricultural losses. These climate-induced disruptions not only threaten local food production but also impact global supply chains, with export restrictions from other countries exacerbating the strain on the Philippines' food security.
