ACCRA, Ghana – A new study has found that climate change is driving extreme heat in West Africa, threatening cacao harvests and pushing cocoa prices to record highs.
Researchers warn that the rising temperatures—linked primarily to fossil fuel emissions—are exacerbating an already precarious situation for farmers in the region, which produces about 70% of the world’s cocoa.
The report by independent research group Climate Central highlights that Ivory Coast and Ghana, the two largest cacao producers, are experiencing significantly hotter temperatures.
Using observational data and climate models, researchers determined that climate change has added an extra three weeks of temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius (89.6°F) in the main growing season over the last decade.
In 2023—the hottest year on record—some West African cacao-producing areas saw at least 42 days of such extreme heat.
This temperature surge is affecting both the quality and quantity of cocoa production, according to scientists.
In addition to heat stress, other factors—including disease outbreaks, erratic rainfall, smuggling, and illegal mining—have compounded the crisis, pushing cocoa prices beyond $10,000 per tonne on global markets.
Prices have skyrocketed since late 2023, surpassing a historic peak of $12,500 per tonne in December and remaining well above the $2,000-$3,000 range that was standard for decades.
The financial pressure is already trickling down to consumers.
Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Sprüngli announced it will raise prices again in 2024 to offset the soaring cost of cocoa.
The crisis poses a growing threat to the global chocolate industry and the millions of farmers who rely on cacao cultivation for their livelihoods.
Christian Aid, a UK-based charity, released separate research reinforcing the impact of climate change on West African cocoa farmers.
Their findings show that weather patterns have shifted erratically, with extreme rainfall damaging crops in 2023, followed by drought conditions in 2024.
“Growing cocoa is a vital livelihood for many of the poorest people around the world, and human-caused climate change is putting that under serious threat,” said Osai Ojigho, director of Christian Aid’s policy and public campaigns.
The broader implications of climate-driven aridity extend beyond cocoa.
Mississippi State University professor Narcisa Pricope, who contributed to a UN study on desertification, warned that over 75% of the Earth’s landmass has become drier in the past 30 years, largely due to greenhouse gas emissions and land degradation.
“Collective action against aridity isn’t just about saving chocolate—it’s about preserving the planet’s capacity to sustain life,” Pricope stated.
