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May 13, 2021

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Climate change to hit Kenya鈥檚 tea production

Climate change is set to devastate Kenya鈥檚 tea production as the world鈥檚 largest exporter faces rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and insect infestations, according to analysis released earlier this week.

Tea is the world鈥檚 most consumed drink after water and disruption in supply from the east African nation is predicted to have a global impact.

A report from the charity Christian Aid outlined the various threats Kenya faces to its key black tea crop, as well as the dangers that other countries are likely to encounter as the planet continues to warm.

Citing a peer-reviewed study, the report said that the quadruple threat of rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, droughts and new insect infestations are forecast to destroy 26.2 percent of the country鈥檚 optimal tea growing areas by 2050.

And climate change is expected to reduce the areas with medium-quality growing conditions by nearly 40 percent in the same time frame.

鈥淔or generations we have carefully cultivated our tea farms and we are proud that the tea that we grow here is the best in the world,鈥 said Richard Koskei, a tea farmer from Kenya鈥檚 western highlands.

鈥淏ut climate change poses a real threat to us. We cannot predict seasons anymore, temperatures are rising, and rainfall is more erratic.鈥

Karimi Kinoti, head of Christian Aid鈥檚 Africa division, said tea was just another example of how people living in countries least responsible for the climate crisis are bearing the heaviest burden.

鈥淎fricans make up 17 percent of the world鈥檚 population but we generate just 4 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions that have caused the climate crisis,鈥 she said.

鈥淎nd yet it is we who are suffering the brunt of the impacts of climate change.鈥

鈥榃orld will be watching鈥

The report warned that the livelihoods of more than 3 million people in Kenya鈥檚 tea industry would come under threat in the next two decades.

Britain, the biggest per capita tea consumer, is set to host crunch UN climate talks in Glasgow in November.

Mohamed Adow, director of the Power Shift Africa climate and energy think tank, said the COP26 negotiations presented a vital opportunity for richer nations to provide proper support for poorer ones already having to adapt to climate change.

鈥淎s a major historical polluter and the creator of the industrial revolution the UK has played a big part in the climate emergency which we Kenyans are suffering from,鈥 he said.

鈥淭his year, as hosts of the G7 and COP26, the UK has a big role to play in tackling it.

鈥淭he whole world will be watching, especially Kenyan tea farmers and other people on the front lines of the climate crisis,鈥 added Adow.


 

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