Study reveals climate change may expand locust swarms into new areas

A recent study highlights the potential expansion of locust swarms into new regions due to global warming, posing significant threats to agriculture and food security.

Global warming is likely to increase locust habitats by 5-25 per cent by 2100, especially in west India and west central Asia, according to Environmental Health News.

Extreme weather conditions, such as droughts and heavy rains, are conducive to locust breeding and swarming.

The expansion of locust swarms could severely impact food security and livelihoods in vulnerable regions.

“If the global temperature keeps rising, it may create favorable conditions for locust development in previously low-temperature regions,” assistant professor of the National University of Singapore Xiaogang He said.

This research underscores an intersection of climate change and food security. As locust swarms potentially move into new areas, they threaten the livelihoods of millions, highlighting the urgency of addressing global warming and its far-reaching impacts on our ecosystem and health.