ENERGY TRANSITION IN WINE GROWING

Climate change is caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. What we have observed over the last 200 years has anthropogenic causes. Obviously, our planet’s climate has naturally been evolving for the last 4.5 billion years. But what we are talking about here is a very recent change, characterized, in particular, by an increase in global temperatures.

There is no longer any doubt that it is GHG emissions that are responsible for this rise of just over one degree since the second half of the 19th century. And there is urgency as GHG emissions are increasing exponentially. Furthermore, the increase is not linear: as time goes on, the faster the growth rate. It is not because temperatures have increased by a degree in a century that they will continue to increase at the same rate. Trend projections show that, at this rate, temperatures could rise by 3 to 5 degrees by the end of the century … a magnitude of variation observed during climate change. It is 100 times faster than natural evolution.

Every year, we see the harmful effects of temperature rises. This is all the more significant as we are not talking about a variation of a few degrees over a given day but of an average increase on a global scale. If we compare this with the human body, we realize that a corporal temperature increase of 2, 3, 4 degrees is considerable. This is a good image to use to differentiate between the change in temperature and the average increase.

Furthermore, the effects are cumulative. CO2, which is the main GHG, stagnates for a very long time in the atmosphere, so the greenhouse effect is constantly increasing because the gases are permanently being added to one other. There is a form of inertia: current emissions join forces with past emissions, the potency increases, leading to climate change. For all these reasons, we must act quickly and do everything we can to ensure that the decline is significant and immediate.

Climate models simulate the future climate according to different possible scenarios. These are not forecasts in a formal sense, but projections that allow us to imagine what may happen. We have already observed that an increase of 1 degree causes visible upheavals. And things will only get worse.

An increase in average temperatures of than 2 degrees compared to those recorded at the end of the 19th century, risks to create uncontrolled climatic phenomena. This is why the scientific community is pushing for the increase to be limited to 2 degrees maximum. Projections show that large areas of the planet will become uninhabitable for human beings: too hot and too humid or on the contrary too dry and waterless. The human body cannot deal with these extremes. Likewise, ecosystems are not able to adapt to such rapid climatic changes.

The overall picture is quite frightening: such results would create economic and geopolitical imbalances – with population displacements for example – and generate great inequalities. Even with a 2 degree rise in temperatures, the world will undoubtedly be more unequal than it is today but should nonetheless be habitable. There is a real urgency to act because every half-degree counts. The scientific models are clear: the decade 2020-2030 is decisive, alternatively we will not achieve the Paris Agreements and we will not be able to limit to temperature rises to within 2 degrees.

Agriculture, in its broader meaning, is a sector particularly affected by climate change. It is on the front line: on the one hand because it is one of the causes of climate change – it is a highly emitting activity, responsible for 20 to 25% of GHGs. But on the other hand, it suffers these effects, with climate transformation.

Viticulture, in particular, is very susceptible to this. For several years now, we have seen discrepancies in the seasons and early growth in the vegetative cycle: in recent years, everyone has been able to observe a rise in temperatures that favors the blooming of the buds, which then go on to be exposed to frost. We can also observe the effects of temperature variations and more frequent and intense violent climatic phenomena. Finally, higher temperatures increase alcohol levels, that correspond neither to regulations nor to the taste.

Conversion to a more sustainable cultivation method is a necessity. But there is a real injustice because even if, individually, we make efforts to limit our GHG emissions, we still suffer the consequences of climate change.  Decarbonization of winemaking is necessary but it does not solve everything.

We must reduce impact. The efforts are basic: they concern emissions directly linked to our activity but also, and this is more complicated, indirect emissions, those of customers and suppliers. One also has to think about how to adapt without suffering too much: changing both cultivation and winemaking methods. Sometimes the solutions can be expensive, but in the long run they are beneficial. Today, we can take advantage of targeted and localized studies so as to specifically respond to the particularities of different territories. Weather forecasts are more and more reliable, making it possible to better respond to climatic variations.

If we think ahead ten or twenty years and take into consideration that the climate is already determined, it is now that we must get to work with agronomists, oenologists and all the experts who interpret climate projections and find solutions. This is all the truer as the vine is a long-term element, where crop change impact takes several years.

France is off to a good start, even if there are, at times, more obstacles than solutions. Our emissions are not always voluntary and conscious.  They are a result of our habits, our lifestyles and our consumption. The first obstacle to be lifted is that of habits: no matter how well informed we are, we often continue to make the same mistakes. We also often come across financial limits. We don’t necessarily have the budget required to change cars even though we know we should!

For this it is necessary that the government succeeds in convincing the population, by encouraging good behavior with the help of incentive policies, and by sanctioning abuse. The High Council on Climate insists on the need for better awareness amongst the population, as climate change is still believed to be far off or insignificant. We must all accept to reduce our emissions, even if we know that this is insufficient alone and that there are still uncertainties. If everyone sees themselves as a stowaway, pretends nothing is happening and relies on others, we will not make any progress. It is a question of collective interest: you must play your role even if the result does not depend only on yourself. We can improve the situation if we are truly determined to change things.