More than 80% of UK farmers now fear that the escalating climate crisis is jeopardising their very ability to make a living, according to a striking new study by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU). The findings paint a grim picture of Britain’s agricultural heartland under siege from global heating:
- 87% of farmers reported reduced productivity due to recent extreme weather.
- 84% suffered falling crop yields, while over three-quarters faced direct hits to their income.
In the past five years alone, 78% of UK farmers have battled drought, over half have endured crippling heatwaves, and only 2% have escaped extreme weather altogether.
Farmers warn that these intensifying conditions threaten not just their livelihoods, but the security of Britain’s home-grown food supply. Meanwhile, the British Retail Consortium has drawn a direct link between climate-driven harvest losses and rising food prices on UK shelves.
“Farmers are on the frontline of climate change,” said ECIU analyst Tom Lancaster. “This research makes clear the devastating toll it’s taking on their businesses—and the ripple effect it will have on all of us.”
This is more than an agricultural crisis. It’s a stark signal that climate change is reshaping the very foundations of Britain’s food security and economy. Read More
News Credit: The Guardian
Picture Credit: MediaWorldImages/Alamy