We often wonder what kind of state the planet will be left in when our children come along, but a world without coffee? That seems almost too terrifying to even begin contemplating.
But, according to the Australian Climate Institute, this cold, dark idea may be a reality that’s going to be faced sooner rather than later. Like, 2080 soon.
The reason for all this? Climate change.
Due to rising temperatures and growing levels of pests and fungi in coffee-growing parts of the world, the institute predicts that land currently used to grow our much-loved coffee beans is fast becoming unusable, with much likely to be rendered unsuitable by as early as 2050.
Say goodbye to that morning pick-me-up. Source: iStock.
So that Arabica bean you love so much? Gone.
The Guatemalan blend? Not far off.
So while you and I may not still be around in 64 years, that doesn't mean there aren't still immediate issues of coffee-gate facing us.
The Institute's findings have also suggested that the quality and flavour of coffee being grown in the near future will be affected by these temporal issues. And with this, comes a price rise (because $4 a cup isn't expensive enough.)
RIP coffee. It was fun while it lasted. Source: iStock.
And perhaps even more shockingly, the high-and-mighty unaddicted inhabitants of the world are still affected by the changing landscape. Because with the coffee industry employing so many people around the world, any change to the product's availability and cost will ultimately have a huge economic flow-on.
What this does to our prime minister's "jobs and growth" plans we're not sure, but it can't be good.
The only solution to this serious issue?
Taking climate change seriously and working to ensure we leave the world in a better state than which we originally found it.
Because if not for our sure-to-be caffeine addicted babies, then who?
If coffee really does become extinct, we're gonna need to get a lot more sleep. Listen to The Well podcast's sleep intervention episode:
Top Comments
What do you mean don't panic..........you said coffee is becoming extinct - what else can I do but panic ;)))
if the climate is getting hotter - surely we can just move the coffee growing to the parts that are now the correct temperature? as the earth gets hotter, coffee growing will occur further and further away from the equator?
I think it's more about usable agricultural land diminishing.