Thread by @MSNBC

If climate change is left unchecked, rising temperatures, extreme weather and land degradation could trigger a global food crisis, according to a new UN report. nbcnews.to/2MappHF (1/6)

If average global temperatures rise 2°C over the pre-industrial average — something previous reports have suggested could happen by the end of the century — the risk of food supply instabilities “are projected to be very high,” the report says. (2/6)

A key way food production could be affected is extreme weather events, which can disrupt crops or growing seasons.
Scientists are already seeing some of this play out. Much of the Midwest saw heavy rain and floods this spring, which delayed farmers' planting. (3/6)

The report identified research showing that pumping carbon dioxide into the air through human activities could decrease the quality of nutrients in certain crops. In this carbon dioxide-heavy environment, wheat grown had up to 13% less protein and up to 8% less iron. (4/6)

The report outlined possible solutions, such as more sustainable land management and reducing food waste, which releases a potent greenhouse gas known as methane as it rots. nbcnews.to/2MappHF (5/6)

The report also suggests dietary changes could mitigate some impacts of global warming.

Widespread adoption of more environmentally friendly diets, such as veganism, could reduce the equivalent of up to 8 gigatons of carbon dioxide per year. (6/6) #NBCNewsThreads