As California stands on an unavoidable precipice of a hotter and drier future, the onus is on the people to ponder and plan for what is to come. In the wake of America’s longest recorded drought and powerful wildfires, the state is coming to grips with global warming, which has brought stifling dry heat and unrelenting aridity, as well as devastating wildfires that have burned entire communities. With many places in the state having seen their hottest summer months ever in 2020, the effects of global warming have become all too real, forcing Californians to think about the potentially catastrophic changes that lie ahead.
One of the most dramatic effects of climate change on the Golden State will be ongoing drought. California’s already-hot and dry summers, as well as its prolonged dry spells, will probably worsen and last longer in coming years. The region’s shrivelled water supplies necessitate reducing water use before further restrictions are imposed. Studies reveal that this decrease in water availability continues to push non-profit and private sector organizations, cities and counties to look for new and innovative ways to use and conserve water.
Another major effect of global warming is the increasing frequency and intensity of bush and forest fires. The state’s long dry spells, due to rising temperatures, have created a hazardous fire risk. This has resulted in the formation of larger and more frequent fires, and put endangered species, homes, businesses and communities at risk. Global warming has already caused the state to lose over 5 million acres of land to fires in the 2020-2021 season along. Unfortunately, due to rising temperatures, these conditions are only expected to worsen in the future.
The economic impacts of a drier, hotter California are also concerning. Already, climate change has had widespread repercussions for businesses in California. Dried up rivers and streams have led to reduced fish populations and fishing industry revenue, while heat waves have hastened the death of crops. Wildfires have destroyed millions of dollars’ worth of homes and businesses, disrupting the economy and affecting families. Tourism, agriculture and fishing are all highly vulnerable to the effects of global warming and will continue to be affected if preventative measures are not taken to minimize its effects.
In light of the potential catastrophic changes to come, it is essential that members of the public, businesses and organizations alike come together to tackle climate change. We must find innovative ways to reduce emissions and protect what nature we have left, as well as work towards technologies and policies that can help us make our environment more resilient to climate change. With the right kind of research, planning and implementation of preventative measures, we may still be able to mitigate some of the more extreme effects of global warming in California.
Together, we can ensure that future generations will not have to face the same extreme challenges that we are now coming to terms with. We can create a healthier and more sustainable future for ourselves and the planet. It has been said that “we do not inherit the world from our ancestors but borrow it from our children”. By taking action against global warming, we can ensure that the environment California is a place of respite, beauty and abundance for generations to come.