Current Event 12/7 - COP21 Sustainable Coffee Challenge

"A new initiative aiming to make coffee the world's first sustainable agriculture product has been launched with support from key industry players including Starbucks and the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA)."

This is huge. The Sustainable Coffee Challenge, looks to develop a framework for greening one of the largest agriculture commodities in the world: coffee. The challenge was launched this week at the Paris climate conference by Conservation International, a US environmental charity. Peter Seligmann, chairman and chief executive of Conservation International claimed "This will require commitments by roasters to support increased demand for sustainability. It will also require improved measurement of how far the sector has come in the sustainability journey — and just how far we have to go."

According to the article, nearly half of the world's coffee was produced in accordance with CI's sustainability metrics, however, only 12 percent was sold as "sustainable" in the international markets. 

The coffee industry has great incentive to lead with sustainability initiatives. They are at most risk for financial lost from a changing climate. "Nearly every major coffee-producing region of the world is now experiencing some impacts from climate change, with warming temperatures, drought and changing weather patterns all having an effect on coffee production."

Implementing sustainable practices in coffee production can stop deforestation and lay the groundwork for other agriculture sectors to follow suit.

I'm excited to see what other great challenges and initiatives are going to come out of COP21.

Reference:

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2437454/cop21-industry-giants-launch-sustainable-coffee-challenge