And the Polish should be especially worried.
That’s according to a study published today in the science journal Nature Plants. Production of the world’s most popular alcoholic beverage will be hit hard by a changing climate over the coming decades says the new study.
As demand rises along with income in the developing world, we will place increasing stress on the planet through the intensive production of the plant-based beverage. Drought and extreme heat will cause yearly yield losses for barley crops, one of the main ingredients of beer, threatening supply and causing costs to rise, which will, in turn, cause a drop-off in demand.
Nowhere will this be felt more severely than in Poland, which could see beer become five times more expensive in a worst-case scenario.
“Although not the most concerning impact of future climate change, climate-related weather extremes may threaten the availability and economic accessibility of beer,” concludes the study.
And so it seems it snow sports fan are faced with a supreme irony. As the source of shared joy melts, soaring temperatures could push what is arguably the iconic beverage of our culture beyond reach as well.
Find the entire study here: Decreases in global beer supply due to extreme drought and heat