Agricultural Costs of Climate Change, Land Degradation and Water Scarcity

According to one study the combined impacts of Climate change, land degradation and water scarcity could cost as much as $8 trillion in agriculture assets each year. This is the finding of a study from the University of Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.

Agricultural impacts of climate change, land degradation and water scarcity are complicated by increased production. This increased production is due to growing investment in agriculture which is intended to capitalize on high commodity prices. According to the Oxford Smith School study capital stock could lose between $4.4 trillion and $8 trillion in a single year.

The study also found that the total natural capital cost from agriculture is $2.369 trillion each year in terms of lost ecosystem services.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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