Global Warming and Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an
international body made up of two thousand of the world’s leading climate scientists,
has concluded that a gradual warming of our climate is underway. They predict that
during our children's lifetimes, global warming may raise the average temperature of the
planet by as much as 11 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, some regions of the world have
already warmed by 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The 1990s were the hottest decade of the entire
century; perhaps even the millennium, and 1998, 2001, and 2002 were three of the hottest
years ever recorded.
The addition of large amounts of heat-trapping gases
into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation is driving this
change. These gases remain in the atmosphere for decades to centuries, so our choices
today will affect the climate our children and grandchildren inherit. We must act now to
reduce the severe impacts to their environment, health, and economic welfare.
While Californians alone cannot stabilize the
Earth's climate, we can and are leading the nation in confronting climate change by
reducing our emissions. For example, the California Air Resources Board recently
approved regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles sold in California by approximately 30% by
2016. Governor Schwarzenegger set a goal to reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions to 80% under the 1990 levels by 2050! In 2006 California passed the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32) that caps greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by 2020 (a 25% cut).
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Threats to California’s health, economy and environment
California’s environment and economy will likely be
significantly affected by the change in climate. Climate scientists predict
considerable increases in global temperature over the next century.
Temperatures are
predicted to increase by about 4 – 10° F by the end of the century.
Warmer temperatures and drier conditions are
expected to increase fire frequency.
Warmer winter and spring temperatures will likely
reduce snowpack in the Sierra Nevada by 30-70% causing reductions in the water supply by as much as 30%,
with cascading impacts on winter recreation, streamflow and water storage.
Temperature increases will likely cause rapid
changes in the distribution of native plants and animals, resulting in loss of
biodiversity. Losses of alpine and subalpine vegetation could reach 40 to 50% before 2050.
Global sea level has risen 4-8 inches over the
past century and will continue rising over the next century, which could increase storm
damage, erosion, and flooding of valuable real estate and rich wetland ecosystems.
Higher sea levels could also allow saltwater intrusion into aquifers and the rich
ecosystems found at the mouths of rivers.
California’s
$30 billion agricultural industry could be hurt by more frequent water shortages and
higher temperatures. The quality and value of dairy products and wine grapes are
particularly at risk.
Human health will be affected in numerous ways,
including increased heat stress, changes in the incidence of infectious disease, and
higher risk of respiratory illness. Heat waves are expected to be more intense increasing
heat-related mortality by 2-3 times.
For more information, see California's Climate Choices
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What we can do
Reducing the emission of heat-trapping gases is the most important step we can take to
address the consequences of global warming. The reduction in heat-trapping gases can be
accomplished by promoting energy efficiency programs; switching to renewable energy like
solar, wind and bioenergy; and by driving cleaner vehicles and reducing the miles/person
driven. Developing and implementing programs to meet these challenges will require an
informed citizenry that not only understands the causes and implications of global warming
but also has the willingness to take action to curb it.
To learn more
about the work of this committee, please view:
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Global warming and climate change