The damage caused by climate change has given agriculture another extreme year, Austria’s hail insurance summed up on Friday. “Hail, storms and floods, but especially the heat with a lack of precipitation, caused problems for local agriculture last year,” says CEO Kurt Weinberger. The total damage amounts to 170 million euros.
$130 million is due to the risk of drought, especially crops such as corn, sunflowers and soybeans and pasture, Weinberger said. “The dramatic thing is that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more intense. Costly climate change makes summer a dangerous time for the agricultural sector in the field.”
Warmer winter
According to hail insurance, the winter was 1.5 degrees above average and ranked eighth among the warmest winters in measurement history. Spring was warmer than average. On May 20, Bludenz set a new spring temperature record of 33.7 degrees Celsius.
Hot and dry summer
In addition, it was one of the 20 driest springs in the 164-year record. The summer was warm and generally dry. Autumn started with a cool September, followed by the warmest October on record. In summary, the year 2022 had many phases that were clearly too warm and, according to the hail insurance company, belongs to the three warmest years in Austria.
“If we don’t all work together in the fight against climate change, a summer like this will be among the cooler in a few decades. Due to the lack of precipitation and rising temperatures, but also due to the development of our fields and pastures, Austria’s self-sufficiency with local food is at enormous risk in the future,” Weinberger warned.
“One thing should be clear to us: agriculture ensures our survival through the production of food. The climate crisis and the destruction of our natural environment through construction is not just about agriculture, it is about the existence of all of us, but above all about future generations.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
