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Entity reports on the effects of global warming on the environment.

 The dichotomy between grass and desertification provides an insightful representation of California’s record-breaking warmest January through August.

LOS ANGELES, CA – It was way in the 90s here today and this is not July 4th … it’s already October 28th. For months now, Californians have been drenched in the repercussions of the record-breaking fall heatwave. Just this past September, much of Southern California spent their afternoons scorched in triple-digit temperatures – 103 degrees in Burbank, 101 in Long Beach, 104 in Riverside and 105 in Azusa, Ojai and Van Nuys. Welcome to the new normal – Southern California, where previously many towns right on the beach boasted multimillion dollar manses with no air conditioning – those days are probably over, as temperatures now routinely soar into the high 80s and beyond.

Unfortunately, there’s no El Niño coming this year to come and cool things off. Instead, Santa Ana winds have continued to bring sweltering heat while keeping SoCal on edge with brushfires. As fire departments gear up, LA Weekly warns residents to keep the pumpkins dark for Halloween – don’t risk it. More likely is that the scorching average temperatures and early fire seasons we’ve experienced throughout the West over the past few years will continue, unabated.

Entity reports on the effects of global warming on the environment.

For the past months, from Loma to Sawmill to Soberanes, fires have erupted recklessly and without abandon. 

Consider a recent in-depth article in Men’s Journal, “America is Burning.” The story provides data and expert opinions backing up its thesis that climate change, the drought and “reckless development” have turned most of the American West into “a giant tinderbox.” Wow. Also consider this other supporting data:

  • Worldwide, the decade 2000-2010 was the warmest since 1901-1910, this is quantified by Environmental Protection Agency data.
  • The years 2000-2014 have been the driest in the past 100 years, according to NASA.
  • According to the EPA, the most significant temperature increases in the United States have occurred in the North, West, and in Alaska.
  • Washington, Oregon, and California each felt the effects of a top five warm summer.
  • Since 1998, the contiguous 48 states have experienced seven of the top 10 warmest years on record.
  • NASA also reports that almost one-fifth of global warming has occurred in the past 150 years.

Climate change deniers can call this just normal weather patterns if they wish. They can also claim the Industrial Revolution and continuation of modern industry, coupled with worldwide proliferation of the gasoline and diesel engine have nothing to do with it. I am actually not here to debate this.

Of course, there are so many benefits to an industrial society and we have certainly enjoyed those over the past 150+ years. Whether climate change is caused by man, or not, is not even the issue at this point. My premise is simple: the idea of waiting until it starts raining again, and temperatures begin cooling off, is not something we can count on. Temperatures, water shortages and other effects of climate change since 2000 may well continue, at least for the foreseeable future. And if they do, we need to be ready, and able, to react and plan our business, industrial and personal lives accordingly.

The effects of global climate change are too drastic to ignore. Sure, you’ve heard about the melting glaciers and the rising sea levels. But it’s not just about the heat and water. It’s about the frequenting droughts and fires, the decreasing  amount of freshwater available and the possibility of diseases, such as malaria, spreading. It’s also about the constantly (and drastically) changing ecosystems. Some animal species will migrate farther north. Others, however, won’t be able to move and could become extinct.

Many sea creatures are also at risk. According to the EPA, the world’s oceans are warmer now than at any point in the last 50 years. And as sea temperatures rise, this could cause more powerful tropical storms and impact various kinds sea life, such as corals. If we continue going down this road, the EPA predicts that by 2050, live corals could become rare in tropical and sub-tropical reefs. The combined effects of warmer water and increased ocean acidity from atmospheric carbon dioxide will decrease coral reef habits, thus reducing homes for many other sea creatures. This, in turn, will start a dangerous chain reaction as it disrupts the food web that connects all the ocean creatures.

At this point, it is not about whether or not climate change is caused by man, but rather it is time to take action to save ourselves.

If nothing else, I am glad the media is finally jumping on this bandwagon. Even otherwise intelligent citizens continue to shock me with their ignorance and seeming lack of concern about this phenomenon. “The beach has been great this summer…the water is in the mid-70s. Warmest water in years!” “This past winter was great, so nice and warm, and no rain!” You hear comments like this routinely. As in, Really??? To borrow from John McEnroe at the U.S. Open, “You Can’t Be Serious!”

Hopefully, the media’s day-late-and-a-dollar-short but still valuable realization that the “real” effects of climate change are upon us will wake these otherwise bright and well-meaning friends and neighbors up to the potentially life-threatening situation we face. We are now officially in trouble, folks.

So what can we do to save ourselves? Only a couple of obvious things. First and foremost, every square inch of available and usable rooftop, parking lot sunshades and empty land should be populated with solar panels. Solar energy has already proven itself, especially in sunny climates like the American West, to be a cost-saving and energy efficient way to capitalize upon the increasing temperatures and more days of sun. Not to mention, reducing our dependence upon foreign oil.

We also need to get VERY serious about water conservation. I am so glad to see that even the State of California Department of Transportation is now regularly running messages on freeways imploring drivers to “Save Water – Drought Conditions” and the like. The Department of Water and Power has gone to the extent of informing constituents via voice messages to encourage water conservation. Los Angeles, for example, has implemented “watering days” which assign residences specific days of the week they are permitted to water outdoors based upon their addresses. Even if we could persuade all residents to simply turn off the water while they brush their teeth, the savings would be in the hundreds of millions of gallons.

One other absolutely critical factor is non-partisan politics. I guess I am dreaming here, as even the financial crisis could not bring the two parties together. Perhaps the threat of our children not having a suitable planet to inhabit, deadly storms related to sea level rise, or enough water to drink might be the impetus to change?

Edited by Angelica Pronto
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