As Easter approaches, shoppers may find they are spending more than ever on chocolate as a result of soaring cocoa prices that are squeezing manufacturers and filtering through to consulers. Tuesday saw cocoa prices surge to an all-time high, as poor weather hits crop yields in West Africa, home to 70 percent of global cocoa production.

London

Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently amid rising sea-levels and increasing temperatures.

Climate Crisis

Climate change is being held responsible for a significant increase in cocoa prices, reaching an all-time high, which is expected to impact the cost of chocolate products for consumers. As the major cocoa-producing region, West Africa, which accounts for 70% of the world's cocoa production, experiences adverse weather conditions, crop yields have been negatively affected. These rising cocoa prices are placing pressure on manufacturers and are anticipated to lead to higher prices for chocolate products, particularly noticeable as Easter approaches.



Climate change blamed as cocoa prices soar to record high

The Easter bunny may be just around the corner, but those sweet tooth cravings are becoming more expensive to hit. Though rising steadily last year, global cocoa prices have hit a record high in 2024, surging nearly 138 percent. And here at this cocoa plantation in the Ivory Coast, farmers like Olivier are concerned for their crop. Difficult weather conditions have battered production in West Africa, which produces around 70 percent of the world's cocoa. Though now struggling from severe drought, it was also struck with torrential rain last December, which plagued the pods with fungus. When you don't spray pesticides quickly, when the diseases come to take over your fields, you can lose everything. When it blackens the cocoa, the pods rot before they are picked. That's why you have to spray the fields quickly. On average, chocolate costs around 12.6 percent more than it did last year. Climate analysts attribute these extreme weather conditions, now 10 times more likely, to man-made greenhouse gases. If we don't stop burning fossil fuels now and also invest in adaptation and making cocoa plantations more resilient to deal with these extreme heats, the price of cocoa will increase and cocoa chocolate will become much more of a luxury product. Last month, chocolate makers like Mondelez, Hershey and Nestlé said they were planning more price hikes to cover the cocoa crisis, as industry experts estimate the production drop will have long-term repercussions on the international chocolate market.

At least four people are dead, including an infant, after a series of tornadoes swept across Oklahoma. The weather system is threatening the region with more twisters, heavy rain and large hail in a band stretching from Missouri to Texas.

Sulphur

At least four dead in Oklahoma tornadoes

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she would stand in upcoming European Parliament elections, a move apparently calculated to boost her far-right party, although she would be forced to resign immediately under EU rules.

Pescara

Italian far-right PM Meloni says will stand in EU elections

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Oklahoma

Deadly tornadoes rip through Oklahoma

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Wakeley

Sydney bishop returns to pulpit after stabbing

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Canberra

Protest leaders hit out at Prime Minister over power 'abuse'

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel-Gaza War

Biden tells Netanyahu U.S. doesn't support Rafah assault

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Donetsk

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine troops retreating on eastern front

Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrived in Beijing on an unannounced visit, to meet senior officials to discuss the rollout of Full Self-Driving software and permission to transfer data overseas, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Shanghai

Elon Musk makes surprise visit to China

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Rafah

Hamas releases video of two Israeli hostages

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Australia announces $100m in Ukraine aid

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Prime Minister joins rally calling for end to gendered violence

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Thousands block Tel Aviv streets in protest

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Ohio police released video of a Black man who died at a local hospital after repeatedly telling officers "I can't breathe" as they pinned him to the floor of a bar and handcuffed him, evoking memories of the killing of George Floyd in 2020.

Canton

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Sderot

Gaza hit by fresh strikes amid ceasefire talks

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Jerusalem

US begins building floating base to boost aid

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Windsor

King Charles resuming public duties but Australian trip in limbo

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Council of the City of Sydney

Thousands rally across Australia against domestic violence

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Baku

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Paris

Pro-Palestinian protesters still occupying Sciences Po campus

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Nairobi

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New York

U.S. Presidential Election

The Australian journalist caught up in Trump trial

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Marsden Park

Mourners farewell Bondi security guard Faraz Tahir

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Washington

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Israel steps up airstrikes on Rafah ahead of ground operation

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Port-au-Prince

Haiti interim transition council to be sworn in

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Climate Crisis