Extreme weather is driving up global staple food prices.

In the month of July that has just passed, Japan has been experiencing a "continual high fever." Data from the Japan Meteorological Agency shows that on July 30th, the highest temperature in the western Hyogo Prefecture reached 41.2 degrees Celsius, setting a new record for high temperatures in Japan. At least three other places on that day had temperatures reaching or exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, with many places reaching or exceeding 39 degrees Celsius. The latest study published in the "Environmental Research Letters" indicates that extreme weather is driving up the prices of many staple foods globally and bringing about more widespread social risks. For example, a heatwave that hit East Asia in 2024 caused a 70% year-on-year increase in the price of cabbage in South Korea, and a 48% increase in the price of rice in Japan. The study warns that extreme weather conditions leading to higher food prices are exacerbating overall inflation, creating uncertainties for the global economy.