If the topic of climate change hasn’t been taken seriously already, it certainly will be when people realize that it’s trying to take away the beloved tradition of Christmas trees. Steadily increasing temperatures and droughts have both worked to impair the production of Christmas trees in recent years. The nation’s industry of these trees announced a shortage in 2023, just last year. This shortage has increased the prices of Christmas trees for Americans all over the country, but the prices have not stopped their rise. Instead, it is predicted that in the next 7-8 years they will skyrocket as the full effects of climate change will catch up with the industry and cause tank production.
Despite this nationwide shortage, the Northeast has been struggling the most, with over 90% of the region being abnormally dry, according to the US Drought Monitor. These rising temperatures and droughts have cost some Christmas tree farmers 25% of this year’s crop. Leading up to the Christmas tree-buying season, temperatures have been between 54 and 42 degrees. These unusually high temperatures heavily affect the growth of Christmas trees, as they have no needles and are all yellow on the inside. For Christmas trees to break out of their dormant phase, they need to be exposed to weeks of sub-40-degree weather. If that does not happen, they will not be ready to sell. Temperatures show no sign of decreasing any time soon, making a bad situation worse. The loss of production has prices this year rising by 10% compared to last year, according to the American Christmas Tree Association. With climate change continuing to run rampant, production may only slow down more and increase the prices.
The decline in production and the price increase threaten the entire industry of Christmas tree farming because as prices rise, fewer people each year will be willing to buy a real tree, as fake ones are far more cost-efficient. This would not end the industry of real Christmas trees, but it could damage the tradition. Christmas tree shortages and price increases have significant potential to become a bigger problem for Americans who prefer a real Christmas tree. Climate change can effectively play the Grinch and take away the joy and Christmas spirit that a tree fills a house with.