Climate change is heating up West Africa's cocoa belt

Read the full report: Climate change is heating up West Africa's cocoa belt
Download the data: Data for 44 districts, regions, and states in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria

Key Facts

• Climate change, due primarily to burning oil, coal, and methane gas, is causing hotter temperatures to become more frequent in the four West African countries responsible for producing approximately 70% of the world’s cacao — the key ingredient in chocolate.

• Analysis of daily maximum temperatures during the past decade shows that climate change added at least three weeks above 32°C (89.6°F) annually during the main cacao crop season (October-March) in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Such temperatures are above the optimal temperature range for cacao trees.

• Over the same time period, climate change added just over two weeks above 32°C annually during the main crop season in Cameroon and more than one week in Nigeria.

• In 2024, human-caused climate change added six weeks’ worth of days above 32°C in 71% of cacao-producing areas across Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria.

• While many factors, such as precipitation and insect-borne infections, can affect cacao trees, excessive heat can contribute to a reduction in the quantity and quality of the harvest — potentially increasing global chocolate prices and impacting local economies in West Africa.

Data

Download data (.xlsx) for 44 districts, regions, and states in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria

Report

Download report

Major funding provided by the Bezos Earth Fund