In preparation for Easter, those who enjoy chocolate should expect to pay more for their beloved holiday treats.

According to a nonprofit organization focused on the environment, the price of cocoa has increased by three times due to climate change and the impact of El Nino weather patterns. Currently, prices have reached $8,000 per ton, whereas they were only $2,500 at the same time last year.

According to Amber Sawyer, a climate and energy analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), a UK-based non-profit organization, the unpredictable weather patterns in the leading cocoa-producing countries of Ghana and Ivory Coast have had an impact on global commodity prices.

“Companies in the chocolate industry are attempting to purchase more cocoa, but its availability is limited,” she explained. “This has caused a rise in demand due to the reduced supply, resulting in higher prices for chocolate-producing companies and ultimately being passed on to consumers as production costs.”

The countries of Ghana and Ivory Coast, responsible for almost 60% of the world’s cocoa production, were hit with severe rainfall in December. This resulted in flooded crops and a high occurrence of black pod disease, causing damage to the cocoa plants.

Intense temperatures have also caused harm.

According to Sawyer, this is not only impacting the growth of the crops, as cocoa is challenging to cultivate in these circumstances, but it is also directly affecting the well-being of the farmers.

She stated that farmers have experienced a shift from excessive rainfall to insufficient rainfall, resulting in a delay in production and the inability to export goods on the global markets.

Due to unfavorable weather conditions and smuggling, Ghana’s cocoa production estimate for this year has been lowered from 850,000 tons to 650,000 tons.

According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, cocoa is cultivated in nations that are highly susceptible to climate change and have limited readiness to address its impacts.

On Thursday, a report from the World Weather Attribution site based in the United Kingdom revealed that West Africa faced a severe heatwave in February, recording temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

Researcher Izidine Pinto from the Royal Netherlands Metrological Institute stated that heatwaves and heavy rainfall have a significant impact on individuals’ lives and employment opportunities.

He stated that climate change is causing heavier rainfall and increasing the intensity of heatwaves. These alterations in extreme weather are posing a greater danger to individuals in West Africa. This has negative effects on their livelihoods, damaging crops, and driving up food costs.

According to meteorological professionals, the frequency of heatwaves has increased from once every 100 years to once every 10 years due to the extensive use of fossil fuels in our current climate.

Despite being responsible for emitting the lowest levels of greenhouse gases, African nations face the greatest consequences of climate change. The ECIU calls on wealthier countries to provide financial and technical support to help farmers mitigate the effects of extreme weather and changing climate conditions.