The coffee industry, vital to many livelihoods, faces profound disruptions due to climate change. Altered weather patterns, rising pest and disease threats, and shifting cultivation zones are all consequences of this global issue.
On a recent Sunday in July, a startling CNN headline declared: “Melting Polar Ice is Changing Earth’s Spin, Making Days Longer.” This news highlights the severe impact of climate change, underscoring the profound global effects and uncertainties it brings.
The East African region, a significant coffee-growing area, has not been spared. Kenya is experiencing severe flooding, Lake Victoria’s levels are rising, Northern Uganda is suffering from drought, and coffee-growing areas are seeing unpredictable rainy seasons.
While climate change is often discussed in terms of global warming, its severe effects on coffee production—a key sector supporting numerous livelihoods and economies—are frequently underestimated.