Brewing Solutions

The document highlights the economic importance of the beer industry and the risks posed by climate change to barley, hops, and water supplies. It details adaptation efforts, such as the development of drought-resistant crops and water preservation partnerships, alongside operational sustainability measures like using recycled glass and clean energy.

• Climate change poses a direct threat to the primary ingredients of beer, specifically barley, hops, and water, through increased heat and precipitation extremes. A 2018 Nature Plants study indicates that extreme heat and drought can negatively impact barley yields.
• Water availability is declining in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, which are the primary regions for U.S. hops production.
• Brewers and researchers are implementing adaptation strategies, including the development of drought-resistant barley and pest-resistant hops, as well as water preservation partnerships. Anheuser-Busch InBev has collaborated with The Nature Conservancy in the West and established "water funds" in Latin America.
• Breweries are reducing their environmental footprints by adopting clean energy, electric vehicles, and capturing CO2 from fermentation. New Belgium Brewing Company identified that materials like glass can have a larger footprint than energy, leading to a focus on recycled bottles and supply chain improvements.
• The craft brewing sector is a significant economic driver in the U.S., contributing over 550,000 jobs in 2018 and representing nearly a quarter of the $114 billion beer market.

APA

Climate Central (2020). Brewing Solutions. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/brewing-solutions-2020

Chicago

Climate Central. Brewing Solutions. 2020. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/brewing-solutions-2020.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=Brewing Solutions |date=11 March 2020 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/brewing-solutions-2020 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral2020brewing, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{Brewing Solutions}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2020}, month = mar, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/brewing-solutions-2020}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }