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Climate change threatens beer
A recent study suggests that the price of beer in Canada could triple unless the world acts to reduce climate change.
The researchers published a study in Plants Nature this week on the effects of extreme heat and drought caused by climate change on the beer supply around the world.
Nathan Mueller, a professor of Earth Sciences at the University of California at Irvine, said that he and his co-authors had done the study because they liked beer and that they liked it. they studied climate change.
"The main ingredient in beer is barley and we know that crops are sensitive to climate fluctuations," said Mueller.
The team used climate models to estimate the likelihood that barley-producing regions such as Canada will experience extreme heat and drought events over the next century under warming conditions of 3 to 5 ° C. Agree that we are currently moving towards at least 3 C of warming without serious emission reductions.
The team found that the risk of such events increased by about 4% with less than 3 ° C warming, but by 31% with 5 ° C or higher – enough for it to happen every two years, Mueller said. This warming would reduce world barley yields by 3 to 17%, assuming that agricultural techniques are not modified.
The team then applied these supply changes to an economic model of beer consumption. The team found that global beer consumption would drop by 16%, which is equivalent to all beer consumed in the United States in 2011, while prices doubled.
Canadians are expected to pay about US $ 0.72 more per bottle of 500 mL beer if they continue to heat below 3 ° C, which would make 13 bottles less a year for most (versus 114.5 ). At over 5 ° C, prices rise by 4.35 USD and consumption decreases by almost a third (36.5 bottles).
"Prices really go up in Canada," said Mueller, reaching about $ 6.22 a bottle, in the worst case.
"We are talking about a triple price."
Although less beer consumption can help Canadian livers, Dr. Mueller said the changes in this study would also make life harder for farmers, as changing weather conditions have a beneficial effect on the technology. .
"I, myself, would be very unhappy to pay so much for a beer in Canada."
Mueller pointed out that the effects of climate change on beer would be much less serious if we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
The study is located at the address go.nature.com/2J6OjDO.
Chat about the climate
Some of Alberta's most innovative thinkers will be in Edmonton next week to discuss how this province can take action on climate change.
About 300 people were scheduled to visit the Triffo Theater at MacEwan University on October 24 for the second edition of Change for Climate Talks. The event will include lectures by 11 community leaders and aims to inspire local action on climate change.
A recent survey of Edmontoners by Change for Climate (the City of Edmonton's climate change initiative) found that while 73% of them were personally concerned with climate change and felt that it was necessary to act, 47% thought that others thought the same thing, said discussion organizer Andrea Soler. These discussions were a way for residents to meet other people sharing their concerns.
"It is very important to give Edmontonians the opportunity to see that they are not alone."
This year's speakers include Mike Flannigan, Forest Fire Scientist, Melissa Gorrie of Waste Free Edmonton and Desmond Bull of the Louis Bull Tribe. Videos of the discussions will be posted on Facebook in January for everyone.
Tickets are $ 10 and go fast. Visit bit.ly/2PIcrPP for more details.
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