{"id":8330,"date":"2016-11-03T16:40:30","date_gmt":"2016-11-03T20:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/do-you-like-beer-then-fight-climate-change\/"},"modified":"2016-11-03T16:40:30","modified_gmt":"2016-11-03T20:40:30","slug":"do-you-like-beer-then-save-the-climate","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/do-you-like-beer-then-save-the-climate\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you like beer? Then save the climate!"},"content":{"rendered":"

The United States beer industry, which consists of more than 2,800 breweries that generate $246.5 billion in economic output and created 2 million jobs, is already feeling the effects of climate change.1<\/sup> Recognizing the importance of climate in their business, brewers are constantly seeking new ways to protect their supply chain and reduce emissions in the production of beer.2<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"no-slow-down-in-global-warming\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

The 3 Main Beer Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beer, a \u201cdeeply agricultural product,\u201d consists of water, barley, and hops, three ingredients that are negatively impacted by climate change, resulting\u00a0 in a supply and quality control issue for brewers.3<\/sup><\/p>\n

Water<\/strong>: Anywhere from 3-8 gallons of water are needed to produce one gallon of beer.4<\/sup> Brewers are becoming increasingly concerned about water supply and usage as 2014 was the hottest year on record, leading to severe droughts across the US and restrictions on water usage.5<\/sup> Without a constant and reliable source of clean water, brewers are simply unable to produce beer.<\/p>\n

Barley and Hops<\/strong>: Barley gives beer its color and contains the sugars needed for fermentation. Hops affect the aroma and flavor of a beer. Unpredictable weather patterns including heatwaves and droughts, rising sea levels, and warmer winters all pose a threat to barley and hops by increasing the variation of their yield and quality\u2026 and with beer, the flavor and quality consistency is at stake with those variations.6<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"2016beer_water_en_title_sm\"<\/a> \"2016beer_barley_en_title_sm\"<\/a> \"2016beer_hops_en_title_sm\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Climate Change at Smuttynose Brewing Company<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"smuttynose\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Smuttynose Brewing Company, a coastal New Hampshire award-winning brewer, distributes beer in 25 states and 11 countries.7<\/sup> Peter Egelston, President and co-founder of Smuttynose explains how climate change is affecting his business:”Climate change threatens Smuttynose on a number of different levels. Our coastal headquarters means we’re vulnerable to sea level rises, which all modeling shows to be true. More directly, we can’t brew beer without malting quality barley and hops, two specialized agricultural products that need consistent growing conditions.\u201d 8<\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

Breweries and a Climate Declaration<\/strong><\/p>\n

On March 10, 2015, Smuttynose, along with 41 other beer companies and 1,300 companies such as General Motors and eBay, signed a Climate Declaration to urge policymakers to take action on climate change and its effects on businesses.9<\/sup> The 42 brewers signed also signed a beer-industry specific declaration concerning the impacts of climate change on their $246 billion industry and their individual commitments to reduce emissions and brew with the climate in mind.<\/p>\n

\n

Smuttynose Lives up to its Commitment<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"14545453\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In April 2016, Smuttynose became only the second brewer in the US to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standard with its construction of a new headquarters building that was completed in 2014.10<\/sup> LEED is an international green building standard and certification program that encourages environmentally responsible construction and operation. Below are the ways in which Smuttynose practices sustainability:<\/p>\n