Abstract

Agriculture is the economic sector that is most vulnerable to climate change. According to the latest estimates, farmers’ adaptation of farm production to climate change is inevitable. The climate attributes that are expected to have the most direct impacts on agricultural productivity are the rise in temperature, the change in the frequency and intensity of precipitation and of extreme weather phenomena, and the increase in the level of CO₂ available for photosynthesis. This paper analyzes the economic costs of climate change in Greek agricultural productivity during the last thirty years and discusses the implications for policymakers and for agricultural research. Empirical evidence suggests that climate change is already present and has a significant impact on agricultural productivity. Farmers need to adapt to the expected impacts of climate change in order to maintain their standard of living. The adaptation of agriculture to climate change involves both the restructuring of crops, as well as changes in cultivation practices. Policies must take into account the multidimensionality of modern agriculture and the importance of sustainable agricultural development.

Key words: Climate change, agricultural productivity, newey-west, sustainable development.