Record-Setting Heatwaves Challenge China's Agricultural Future

In 2024, China experienced its warmest year since records began, with significant increases in temperature affecting agriculture and energy consumption. Shanghai reported its hottest weather since the Qing dynasty. Research is ongoing to adapt staple crops to rising temperatures, as scientists warn of future climate challenges without effective solutions.

China shattered temperature records in 2024, marking its hottest year since national records began over six decades ago. Fresh data indicates a troubling trend, with 2024's national average temperature reaching 10.92 degrees Celsius (51.66 Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous year's figures by over one degree.

Twenty-first-century data accentuates this warming trend. Shanghai, the nation's financial nerve center, experienced its warmest year since the late Qing dynasty, with an average temperature of 18.8 degrees Celsius, elucidating the historic climatic shift.

The uptick in temperatures not only surged power demands but also imperiled agricultural sectors, notably the rice-producing south. To preempt food insecurity, China is researching crop adaptation techniques. Alarming studies revealed stark productivity declines in heat-stressed conditions, heightening urgency amidst broader global warming projections.

(With inputs from agencies.)