"The issues at stake are greater than any decisions made in human history, " Tom Picken of Friends of the Earth International told CNN.

CNN: Environmentalists hope UN talks tough on climate change

Mr Picken said that for 10 years supply and demand had been in the whisky industry's favour, but this year had swung towards the growers.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Scotland | Highlands and Islands | Whisky firms pay more for barley

"The political and economic responses to climate change so far are simply tinkering at the edges of what's needed in relation to what's at stake, " says Picken.

CNN: Environmentalists hope UN talks tough on climate change