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Environmental

Global warming projected to severely impact California if nothing done to decrease GHG's

California's Climate Action Team has released a draft report that summarizes the findings of 37 studies on global warming and its environmental and economic impact on California. The authors are quick to note that the findings are not predictions; instead, they are plausible outcomes (better than a WAG, but ....). The draft report posits two scenarios: a) GHG emissions continue to increase at current rates ("business as usual"), and b) one in which emissions decline by 2100.
 
The technical papers assess potential impacts on coastal areas, the snowpack of the Sierra Nevada mountains, residential electricity consumption, water demand, water supply and management, flooding, timberlands, wildfires, and agriculture. Other papers looked at global warming's impact on air pollution in Southern California, heat-wave-related deaths, environmental health and equity, and ecosystems.
 
Let's talk awfulness. Home losses from wildfires could cost, on average, $2 billion/yr. by mid-century, and up to $14 billion annually by 2100. Climate-induced reduced water supply to the agricultural sector, a major California business, could reduce crop yields, and generate revenue losses of $3 billion per year by 2050. Higher temperatures could increase residential use of electricity by 55% by 2100.
 
The draft 2009 Climate Action Team Biennial Report to the Governor and Legislature can be found at http://www.climatechange.ca.gov/publications/cat/.

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