Coffee and Climate: What's Brewing?

Coffee lovers often ponder the environmental impact of their favorite brew. While coffee isn't the worst offender when it comes to climate change, it still contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Experts estimate that producing a kilogram of roasted coffee can release over 40 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent. To put that into perspective, that's like driving a gas-powered car for several dozen miles. The journey of coffee beans from farm to cup involves several stages, each with its own environmental footprint. Growing coffee beans is a significant contributor to this footprint. Deforestation for coffee farms and the use of fertilizers both play a role in increasing emissions. Unfortunately, reducing these emissions has proven to be a challenging task. In an effort to combat deforestation, the European Union introduced a law in 2023 to ban imports of coffee and other products from deforested lands. However, the implementation of this law has been postponed twice due to global backlash. Coffee-producing countries and businesses argued that the required documentation was too burdensome. For consumers, it's nearly impossible to trace the environmental impact of their coffee. Life-cycle assessments, which track the environmental effects from farm to cup, are complex and not readily available. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for consumers to make informed choices. Despite these challenges, there is hope. Innovations in sustainable farming practices and increased transparency in the coffee supply chain could help reduce the environmental impact of coffee. As consumers, we can also play a role by choosing coffee brands that prioritize sustainability and supporting initiatives that promote deforestation-free coffee.