The ongoing climate crisis and rising energy prices have seen household food bills soar by over £600 over the last two years, with environmental experts warning that this figure is due to increase even further.
A report from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) thinktank highlighted the consequences of the global climate emergency and international turmoil.
Containing analysis conducted by researchers from the universities of Bournemouth, Exeter and Sheffield, the report revealed that extreme weather contributed to one-third of food price inflation in the UK this year.
Joined by rising energy levels triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war, which affected the supply of gas, energy and fertiliser, the report stated that British households were struck by an additional £605 in food costs in 2022 and 2023.
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Breaking down the figure, the report added that the cost of the climate crisis rose from £171 in 2022 to £192 in 2023.
Despite official figures showing food inflation have eased in recent months, the report pointed out that inflation had peaked at an annual rate of almost 20% earlier this year, and still remains at an unprecedented peak of of just under 10%.
“Climate change is playing havoc with global food production, and this is inevitably feeding through to higher prices at the tills,” ECIU land analyst Tom Lancaster told The Guardian.
“Across 2022 and 2023, the climate emergency alone added the equivalent of six weekly shops to the average household food bill.”
Experts warned that the squeeze is not over for the general consumer as bills could rise even higher next year due to the impact of climate events, such as the El Niño weather system.
Report co-author and Sheffield University professor Wyn Morgan, added: “Given we expect climate impacts to get worse, it is likely that climate change will continue to fuel a cost-of-living crisis for the foreseeable future.”
