Panic is expected in pubs as a decline in the production of malting barley in Australia and New Zealand hits breweries. The decline is due to extensive drought, according to Jim Salinger of New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

“Most areas in Australia where malting barley is cropped are likely to experience production declines,” Salinger said, adding: “It will mean either there will be pubs without beer or the cost of beer will go up.”

The nation with the highest beer per capita consumption in the world could face a beer deficit in future as the effects of climate change take their toll, it is claimed.

It seems that climate change has also made the news well run dry.

Australian ABC News reports today that Dr James Hansen has sent a letter to Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd urging him to stop the mining and exports of coal. Australia is one of the world’s biggest coal producers. However, both India and China produce more coal than the Aussies. China is the world leader with 2.4 Mt, eight times as much as Australia’s output. But I guess they are pardoned being in need of fast development.

Coal is Australia’s largest commodity export and a vital national resource. It provides 85 percent of Australia’s electricity production. So what James Hansen is suggesting is practically a total blackout of the Land Down Under.