Trouble is brewing: climate change impacts on coffee production

12.09.16 By
This article is more than 7 years old

A recent report released by The Climate Institute reveals that increasing temperatures and extreme weather events will cut the global areas suitable for coffee production by up to 50% by 2050.

With over 2.25 billion cups of coffee being consumed everyday worldwide, and nearly half of all Australians drinking coffee regularly – this could have a huge impact on our morning routines.

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A Brewing Storm: The Climate Change Risks to Coffee finds that of the world’s 25 million coffee farmers, 80-90% are small growers who are among those most exposed to climate change.

They generally live and work in the “bean belt” which comprises around 70 mostly developing countries, including Guatemala, Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Ethiopia and Indonesia.

These nations are already being affected with changes in rainfall, rising minimum growing temperatures and subsequent increases in pest and disease incidence affecting coffee-bean yields and quality.

The 125 million livelihoods reliant on the $25 billion global coffee economy are at the forefront of the threat from climate change.

Temperature rises and extreme weather events will continue to significantly decrease the productivity of coffee yields globally and will increase burdens on the physical and mental health and well-being of coffee producers, labourers and their communities.

Read more on The Climate Institute website.

 


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