“Through global warming, we have now a fire season all year round,” Schwarzenegger said. “We used to have fire seasons only in the fall. But now the fire seasons start in February already.” With these words California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ventured into uncharted territory on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos”; officially proclaiming a link between California’s unrelenting wildfires and the changing climate. The Governor has good reason to draw this conclusion because of mounting evidence that prolonged drought conditions, a hastening of the annual snow melt and other factors are clear markers of climate change in the West.
Extreme drought is not all that California has to deal with as a consequence of climate change; the oceans may pose the greatest threat to the State. According to a new report, "California Climate Risk and Response," written by UC Berkeley researchers Fredrich Kahrl and David Roland-Holst, 2.5 trillion dollars of California’s prized real estate is at risk due to rising sea levels and wildfires.
Extreme drought is not all that California has to deal with as a consequence of climate change; the oceans may pose the greatest threat to the State. According to a new report, "California Climate Risk and Response," written by UC Berkeley researchers Fredrich Kahrl and David Roland-Holst, 2.5 trillion dollars of California’s prized real estate is at risk due to rising sea levels and wildfires.
The Nation’s longest running sea level gauge is operated from Fort Point underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Over the 20th Century this gauge showed a rise in sea level of seven inches. In the coming Century the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is predicting that global sea levels will rise by an additional seven to 23 inches. This could be devastating to the infrastructure, businesses, residents and wildlife habitats that make up California’s lengthy coastline.
On November 14, 2008 Governor Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-13-08 which directs a multi-agency response to study the potential impacts of climate change in California. In particular the State will ask the National Academy of Science to study the impacts of sea level rises on the California Coast.
“We have to adapt the way we work and plan in order to manage the impacts and challenges that California and our entire planet face from climate change,” said Schwarzenegger. “Given the serious threat of sea level rise to California’s water supply, population and our economy, it’s critically important that we make sure the state is prepared when heavy rains cause flooding and the potential for sea level rise increases in future years.”
“We have to adapt the way we work and plan in order to manage the impacts and challenges that California and our entire planet face from climate change,” said Schwarzenegger. “Given the serious threat of sea level rise to California’s water supply, population and our economy, it’s critically important that we make sure the state is prepared when heavy rains cause flooding and the potential for sea level rise increases in future years.”
By Warren Hohmann
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