Beer fans need not be told that barley is important to the brewing process. Put simply, no one’s going to be cracking open a cold one with ANYBODY without it. But, sadly, barley has a lot of trouble growing during heat waves and droughts, which are both happening more and more often as a result of climate change. The rising temperature of our planet could pose a serious threat to all ales, lagers, and stouts— perhaps this will be what finally mobilizes our world to fix this problem!
Climate scientists finally doing some smart PR.
— Jamie Elmhirst (@elmhirst_jamie) October 15, 2018
The extremes are detrimental to just about every crop — but barley is near and dear to just about everyone — or at least people who like beer.
— Rob Burgundy, CFA (@robmanovich) October 15, 2018
A new study, published by scientists from The United States, United Kingdom, and China, analyzed the effects different degrees of climate change regulation would have on the world’s production of barley. For instance, the study, published in Nature Plants this past Monday, October 15, claimed that if the countries of the world continued on their current course without any regard for climate change (what scientists refer to as the “business as usual” model) the earth’s production of barley would shrink 17% by the century’s end.
— Left Wing Propaganda (@LeftePropaganda) October 15, 2018
Obviously, the lack of barley would have economic consequences. Perhaps most notably, the scientists predict that “today’s average six-pack in the U.S. would cost around $16,” not taking inflation into account. In Ireland, where beer is currently quite plentiful, prices could surge by 200% or more.
if you care about nothing else
climate change will drive up the prices of
— sam (@samiamsamh) October 16, 2018
Nathaniel Mueller, one of the study’s co-authors who also studies environmental change at the University of California Irvine, told Mashable:
Prices really skyrocket in a high-emissions world…At the end of the day, we’re really dependent upon favorable weather conditions, and farmers have located in places where conditions tend to be favorable. As the climate changes around them, they’ll be increasingly exposed to these extreme events.
Left or Right, no one can argue this wouldn’t be catastrophic
— Ubbo Ubbo (@TheRealUbboUbbo) October 15, 2018
Andreas Prein, a “climate and weather extremes” researcher at the National Center for Atmospheric Research who wasn’t involved with the study, isn’t surprised by its results. The results of climate change have been fairly consistent with our predictions thus far:
We have a high certainty of how things are changing…You get strong rainfall in extremes, or you get nothing. Floods and droughts — both are not good for farmers.
The end is truly nigh. Time to abandon all hope.
— Werner H. Hartmann (@WhHartmann) October 15, 2018
And according to Watters, it’s not just about growing more barley. Farmers must also be able to produce a specific, high-quality strain that has trouble in hotter weather.
Generally, the hotter and drier the climate is, that normally indicates higher protein. And that is bad for making beer.
At least they're not blaming millennials for the death of beer.
— Victoria Sterling (@vebesterling) October 15, 2018
The good news? Scientists believe that if the countries of the Earth take action within the next two decades, our beer is pretty safe. According to coverage of the study, “under low greenhouse gas emission scenarios, barley crops — and ultimately beer prices — are only impacted in minor ways.” The necessary changes would be very difficult to negotiate politically, but perhaps the technological innovations necessary to save our world will be remembered as one of the greatest human adventures of all time.
Prein said it best:
It’s in our hands what future we want to see.
— Alex Warner (@Alex_Warner22) October 16, 2018
— CNN International (@cnni) October 16, 2018
Trump claimed last night that climate change is not man-made, is too expensive to fix, and accused scientists of having a “political agenda.”
This isn't ignorance — this is the purposeful dismissal of factual evidence and science. And it's dangerous.pic.twitter.com/ZARf7JjXii
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 15, 2018