NBC News recently published an article claiming that climate change is adversely affecting production, thereby driving up coffee prices, titled Your daily cup of coffee may become more expensive due to climate change. Production data proves this statement to be patently wrong.
NBC News wrote:
Prices for high-quality Arabica coffee beans, which can be found in most restaurants and stores, have surged this month, recently jumping to $3.50 a pound.
…
Today, experts say, climate change is to blame.
“We're seeing severe droughts in some of the world's major coffee-growing regions, such as Brazil, the world's largest coffee exporter,” said David Ortega, a professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University.
…
“We're going to see these types of [climate] Future events will only become more frequent. Therefore, we must start taking this issue seriously and invest in agricultural research and development to be able to mitigate and respond to the impacts of climate change on our agricultural production and agricultural systems,” Ortega said.
“One of the impacts is higher costs, which translate into higher prices for consumers,” he added.
The NBC article attributed the recent rise in coffee prices to climate change by pointing to specific weather events. This approach mistakenly conflates short-term weather phenomena with long-term climate patterns. As discussed in Climate Overview, weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate represents long-term averages and trends. Attributing isolated weather events directly to climate change without considering broader climate data is misleading and scientifically unsound, especially when long-term weather trends show that conditions in coffee-growing regions are not When it gets worse.
The NBC report also ignores the fact that extensive data shows that global coffee production has increased significantly over the past four decades. climate realism Several speeches have been made highlighting that despite concerns about climate change, coffee production remains resilient and even thriving.
Repeated analyzes show that both coffee and cocoa have repeatedly set production records during the recent mild warming, contradicting claims that climate change is driving up prices.
For example, data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations show that global coffee production has grown significantly over the past 40 years, with coffee production in countries such as Vietnam increasing by more than 1,500% between 1992 and 2022. Nearly every coffee-growing region has experienced significant growth, as shown below:
This upward trend highlights the adaptability and resilience of coffee growing practices, even in the face of gradual global warming.
NBC's portrayal of climate change as the main driver of rising coffee prices reflects the media's tendency to blame climate change for almost everything bad. NBC incorrectly summarized short-term weather events and long-term climate trends and, more importantly, ignored the fact that coffee production has increased significantly in recent decades, often setting production records. Instead of looking at actual data, NBC News relied on “expert opinion” without any basis in fact. This hasty reporting lacks due diligence and fails to fully understand the factors affecting coffee prices, including economic dynamics and agricultural practices. NBC News completely fails to consider these data and variables, instead resorting to a tired and false climate disaster narrative.
Anthony Watts
Anthony Watts is a senior fellow in environment and climate at the Heartland Institute. Since 1978, Watts has been in the weather business both in front of and behind the camera as a live television meteorologist and currently oversees daily broadcast forecasts. He created television weather graphics presentation systems, professional weather instruments, and co-authored peer-reviewed papers on climate issues. He runs the world's most viewed climate website, the award-winning wattsupwiththat.com.
Originally published in ClimateREALISM
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