Poverty, not climate breakdown, caused Madagascar’s food crisis, finds study

But scientists say moral imperative' remains to prepare vulnerable populations for increasingly extreme weather

Poverty and a heavy reliance on annual rains are the key factors behind the devastating food crisis in southern Madagascar not climate breakdown, a new study finds.

A million people in the region are struggling for food following the worst drought in 30 years. But the scientific analysis did not show a convincing link to global heating, despite the World Food Programme describing it as the world's first climate-induced famine".