Coffee Hit by Global Warming

 Posted by at 2:06 am  Politics
Feb 282010
 

My favorite beverage is about to get mo expensive…

globalwarming-coffee Coffee producers say they are getting hammered by global warming, with higher temperatures forcing growers to move to prized higher ground, putting the cash crop at risk.

"There is already evidence of important changes" said Nestor Osorio, head of the International Coffee Organization (ICO), which represents 77 countries that export or import the beans.

"In the last 25 years the temperature has risen half a degree in coffee producing countries, five times more than in the 25 years before," he said.

Sipped by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, coffee is one of the globe’s most important commodities, and a major mainstay of exports for countries from Brazil to Indonesia.

But producers meeting in Guatemala this week are in a state of panic over the impact of warming on their livelihoods.

While boutique roasters often seek out highland-grown cherries for their subtle tastes, the cooler terroir comes at a premium.

And the new race to the top comes amid already increasing demands for resources between farmers and energy firms.

"Land and water are being fought over by food and energy producers," said Osorio, "we need to make an assessment to guarantee the sustainability of and demand for coffee production."… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Common Dreams>

This is one aspect of global climate change that hits home for me.  I love coffee.  Switching to tea would be thoroughly dissatisfying, and even worse, it could convert me to tea buggery. πŸ˜‰

It’s bad enough that out coastal cities could become swamps, but we have to save my coffee!

Of course, the opposition to environmental sanity comes from the Republican party.  For, example:

If nothing else, this proves that Republicans do not love coffee as I do.  Their drink of choice is Kool Aid.

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  27 Responses to “Coffee Hit by Global Warming”

  1. say it ain’t so!!! i have to have my morning cuppas! tea is an evening in winter sipping drink for me. the next thing to be effected will be my chocolate! sigh…

  2. Otis is going to freak out. He LOVES his coffee. I’m mostly an iced tea drinker, but I have a cup of coffee (1/2 decaf, 1/2 regular – trying to wean him off the caffeine) with him on the weekends. I’m too lazy to make it for myself during the week. πŸ™‚

  3. Betmo I hear you! Me too. πŸ™

    Lisa, you need to calm him. A rampaging sasquatch could be a public hazard. πŸ˜‰

  4. I drank an extra cup this morning as I read this!

  5. Better guzzle it down while you can Sky. πŸ™‚

  6. The real right wing extremists still won’t be convinced…not until global warming starts affecting their TEA parties. Congrats on the new blog, TC. Looks very nice.

  7. Thanks TC, and I updated you on my bloglist!

    I drink about 6 cups a day, sometimes more, YIKES!!!

  8. That does it! Take your global climate change off my coffee! This is crossing the line. I need to deny global warming and blame the coffee prices on tax and spend librools.

  9. The only caffeine I drink is coffee, you’re scaring me TomCat.

  10. Following you on leighrussell.blogspot.com

  11. The Rushpubliscums aren’t going to be told anything, by anyone. We all know that we’re killing ourselves with a finite resource, but the genius league of the Rushpubliscum Party is having none of it. Just like they don’t want to hear about paying those evil taxes, although they just love bloated militaries and wars.

  12. Yikes….as if the price ever went DOWN within reason from long ago. This is not a good sign. I have adjusted my blogroll and added your new site address. Excellent job dude!

  13. What great irony. I was drinking my coffee while reading your bad news. Normally I love irony.

    Your new site is linked Tomcat. Keep on truckin Brother!

  14. Damn… I buy my coffee @ Starbucks… I have my favs. Nice catch TC. Nice site conversion!

  15. Sky, I’ve had six today, but today has been rush all day. πŸ™‚

    Thanks, Billie. They will care when it evaporates the Kool-Aid\

    Thanks, Leigh.

    JR, I think they are truly insane!

    Thanks, Marie. I hear you there. I used to drink a custom blend. Now it’s store brand. πŸ™

    Thanks Truth. Enjoy it while you can.

    Thanks Gwen. A friend gave me a bottled Starbucks. I thought I was in heaven.

  16. Ya know, this could finally be the one thing that gets the world up off it’s collective asses to do something.

    I like the new digs!

  17. Cool site (first time visitor.)

    As Bee above me says, this IS what’s going to finally get the world to wake up: Some industry starting to get affected by it. Threaten someone’s $$$ and the politicians might finally wake up and take some notice as well.

  18. Bee says: “Ya know, this could finally be the one thing that gets the world up off it’s collective asses to do something.”

    Without coffee, it’ll take people longer to get off their asses and take action.

  19. Thanks Bee. It hits home for a lot of people.

    Welcome Eddie. I sure hope that you’re right.

  20. LOL, Stimpson!! πŸ˜€ I hadn’t thought of it that way!!

  21. Nice new place you got here TC! Man I guzzle at least 4 cups a day or more. Edging into Sues league. I like your “teabuggery” line man.

  22. Like the new blog!

  23. Done T.C.

    God Bless

  24. Inhofe is a complete idiot. I was astonished to hear that he is actually a doctor. I wouldn’t want this guy working on me.

  25. Nice house warming! Where should I put the potato salad?

  26. Thanks Oso. It’s appropriate, I think. Thou shalt steal if you like it. πŸ™‚

    Thanks Jeri and AP.

    Thanks Hugh. The best place to put the potato salad is inside the TomCat. πŸ˜‰

  27. Sorry Mike. That does not speak too highly of US education, does it?

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