Craft breweries join forces to defeat climate change

​New Belgium Brewery Co., Smuttynose Brewing Co. and Deschutes Brewery join dozens of brewers in announcing they’ve signed the Climate Declaration, a business call to action that urges policymakers to seize the economic opportunity of tackling climate change. The 24 brewery signatories range from local microbreweries to major international brands and are headquartered all across America, from Oregon to Wyoming to Maine.

Launched in 2013 by Ceres, a nonprofit sustainability advocacy organization, and its business network Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy (BICEP), the Climate Declaration has more than 1,300 signatories nationwide, including iconic brands like General Motors, Disney, Levi Strauss, Mars Inc. and eBay.

The brewing companies have signed their own Brewery Climate Declaration, a companion to the Climate Declaration, to call attention to the specific risks and opportunities of climate change on the $246 billion industry.

“We believe that a strong economy and a stable climate go hand in hand,” said Jenn Vervier, director of strategy and sustainability at New Belgium Brewery​ in Colorado. “We’ve committed to making our business sustainable, and it’s more important than ever that businesses engage with policymakers to support forward-thinking climate and energy policies.”

The beer industry faces multiple climate change impacts. Warmer temperatures and extreme weather events are harming the production of hops. Rising demand and lower yields have driven the price of hops up by more than 250 percent in the past decade. Clean water resources, another key ingredient, are also becoming scarcer in the West as a result of climate-related droughts and reduced snow pack.

“These brewing companies see the financial upside of tackling climate change today, both for their own bottom lines and the overall economy,” said Anne Kelly, director of policy and BICEP at Ceres​, a nonprofit sustainability advocacy group. “Many are implementing creative solutions that lower their carbon footprints and cut costs, but they recognize that strong policies are essential for tackling climate change at the scale and pace that’s needed.”

Other breweries that support climate action are invited to join the effort at www.ClimateDeclaration.us.

Here’s a full list of breweries signing the Climate Declaration:

1. Aeronaut Brewing Company (MA)
2. The Alchemist (VT)
3. Allagash Brewing Company (ME)
4. Aspen Brewing Company (CO)
5. Brewery Vivant (MI)
6. Bouy Beer Company (OR)
7. Chuckanut Brewery and Kitchen (WA)
8. Deschutes Brewery (OR)
9. Fort George Brewery and Public House (OR)
10. Fremont Brewing Company (WA)
11. Georgetown Brewing Co. (WA)
12. Guinness (Ireland)
13. Hopworks Urban Brewery (OR)
14. Kona Brewing Company (HI)
15. New Belgium Brewing (CO)
16. Ninkasi Brewing Company (OR)
17. Odell Brewing (CO)
18. Redhook Brewery (WA)
19. Rockford Brewing Company (MI)
20. Smuttynose Brewing Company (NH)
21. Snake River Brewing Co. (WY)
22. Standing Stone Brewing Co. (OR)
23. Wet Dog Café & Brewery (OR)
24. Widmer Brothers Brewing (OR)