Over the last 30 years, the UK’s reliance on imported food has increased, with almost half of the UK’s food imported and 78% of fruit and vegetables sourced from abroad. This dependence on imports, particularly from climate-vulnerable countries, is projected to continue rising, potentially leading to supply shortfalls as extreme weather events in other countries affect food availability and price. The 2022–2023 winter floods and cold weather in Morocco disrupted tomato and other fruit and vegetable harvests. Similarly, the 2010 drought in Russia and Pakistan caused cereal shortages and export bans, driving food price spikes, resulting in a 50% increase in UK food bank usage.
Drought raises the cost of resources used for livestock production, as seen during the 2018 UK drought, where feed costs rose by 20–25%, leading to higher consumer prices for meat and milk. Drought-induced food price volatility poses long-term risks to the UK’s food system, necessitating adaptation to maintain food security amid climate challenges. While there may be short-term benefits to UK food production due to warmer conditions, without sufficient adaptation measures such as introducing climate-resilient varieties, increasing temperatures are expected to reduce net crop yields in the longer term. Disruptions in the supply of healthy foods could result in diets higher in saturated fat, sugars, and salt, adversely impacting public health. Ensuring a resilient food supply is crucial to meeting dietary recommendations and protecting health.
Interruptions in water supply during floods and droughts may lead to poor hygiene and sanitation, increasing the risk of diarrhoeal diseases, as seen during the 2018 drought in Ireland. Also, poor water quality during droughts can increase concentrations of harmful chemicals, such as nitrates and trihalomethanes (THMs), posing risks to human health, including cancer from prolonged exposure to THMs. Drought-induced low water levels can promote harmful algal blooms, contaminating water with toxins that cause skin irritation, gastrointestinal issues, and respiratory problems. Outbreaks of waterborne diseases have been linked to private water sources, which are more vulnerable during droughts, particularly in rural areas.