Extreme weather poses growing threat to China

Significance

The government’s record in reducing the impact of natural disasters is impressive, but the challenge is growing. The most serious threats are drought and flooding, which can kill people, damage infrastructure and cause serious economic losses.

Impacts

• Climate change will affect the farm sector directly, through contraction of the harvested area and losses in output.
• Rising temperatures will increase the proliferation of crop-eating insects and crop disease.
• Water supplies, already under severe pressure in major grain-producing regions of northern China, will decrease further.
• Grain shortfalls could increase China's dependence on foreign markets for cereals and soya.