Increased risk of forest fires and crop loss. Is climate change knocking on the door? – Daily newspaper

No one wants to be a grumpy person, and of course the weather is beautiful with clear skies, sun and warmth over eastern Norway this week. And the previous and the previous. We have harsh winters in Norway, and it must be allowed to enjoy the summer heat.

But there is something grumbling behind the joy of a sea bath, short shorts and skirts in the office, and cold ice cream under the blue sky. Are we now getting the consequences of climate change in our heads?

There is reason to issue a warning, both in the short and long term

It has hardly rained in eastern Norway since April. In May, 17 mm of precipitation fell in Oslo, against the usual 60 mm. June, traditionally a wetter month than May, was quite dry as well.

There is a high risk of forest fires over parts of eastern Norway, and in the south and west. The Social Security and Emergency Preparedness Directorate has put 11 additional firefighting helicopters on alert. Bonfires, barbecues, and all use of fire are prohibited in large parts of the country.

And worst of all, it is beyond cultivation. “A lot of people are worried about crops. That’s a concern that I share,” Minister of Agriculture and Food Sandra Burch (Sp) tells NTB. Burch has good reasons for that.

The Directorate of Agriculture receives regular reports with updated information on the situation from state officials across the country. There are reports of significant consequences of drought on cropland in Oslo, Viken, Vestfold, Telemark, Agder and Inlandet.

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Especially for beans, we can expect a worse than normal yield due to poor germination and growth. The connection is very direct: when it doesn’t rain, there will be a poor harvest. This, in turn, means less of the food that Norway produces is on the table.

It has only been five years since the dry summer of 2018. Then around NOK 2 billion was paid in compensation to Norwegian farmers after crop failures. There are many indications that this summer will also be costly.

That was about the last thing we need right now. There is a war in the food barrel in Europe, and food security has already been under pressure.

There is reason to issue a warning, both in the short and long term. We’ve long been told that climate change will lead to more extreme weather: heavy rains when it rains, heat waves and droughts when it’s hot. Like now.

At the same time, we know very well what we must do to combat climate change: we must reduce emissions. It is worth thinking about how to achieve this while enjoying the summer heat.

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