Hungary faces drying climate and food security risks

Research from Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) indicates that Hungary is transitioning toward a drier climate. While annual precipitation levels have seen only minor decreases, water availability is declining because higher temperatures increase evaporation rates. Over the last fifty years, Hungary has warmed significantly; currently, approximately half of the country experiences a climate similar to central Spain.

This climatic shift poses challenges for European food security and sustainability goals. Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and droughts, threaten crop yields and drive up food prices. In Hungary, the affordability of a healthy diet is a growing social concern, with data suggesting approximately 9 percent of the population cannot afford a healthy diet, which is estimated to cost more than five purchasing power parity dollars per person per day.