Climate change presents a profound challenge to food security and development. Negative
impacts from climate change are likely to be greatest in regions that are currently food
insecure and may even be signifi cant in those regions that have made large gains in reducing
food insecurity over the past half-century. In response to this challenge, the World Bank,
along with other donor and development agencies, is developing strategies for addressing
climate change adaptation and is providing assistance to countries so that they can begin to
implement appropriate risk- reduction measures. Adaptation in the agricultural sector is being
given a high priority within this effort because of the inherent sensitivity of food production
to climate and the strong inter-linkages that exist between climate, agriculture, and economic
growth and development.
The purpose of this report is to identify and summarize potential climate change impacts
on agriculture in regions served by the World Bank, examine the causes of vulnerability,
provide information on where investments are needed to better climate-proof agriculture,
and describe the relevance of current efforts to achieve more sustainable agriculture to that
of managing climate risks for adaptation. The report’s target audience is World Bank staff,
client governments of the World Bank, and the donor and development communities, more
generally. This report is intended to provide an in-depth analysis of climate change and the
agricultural sector. It is hoped that the information contained in this report will stimulate
a closer examination of how to bring better awareness of climate risks to the Bank’s
investments in agriculture and rural development.

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