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State unprepared for effects of warming, a new PPIC report says

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 18, 2008 at 7:43 am

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

Despite its tough goals to reduce greenhouse gases, California is not prepared to deal with the flooding, coastal erosion and loss of wildlife habitat that scientists are predicting in the coming decades as a result of higher global temperatures, a new report says.

Inundation of the coastal shoreline from accelerating sea-level rise and storm surges threaten property, recreational activities and wildlife enclaves, yet agencies are just starting to assess these climate risks and inform local communities, said a study released Monday by the Public Policy Institute of California, a nonprofit research group.

The report examines the state’s capability to provide water and electricity to the public as well as protecting coastal resources, air quality, public health and ecosystems in response to climate change and extreme weather events such as wildfires. It is based on previous studies done by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, UC Davis and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, among other researchers.

“We need to help agencies get prepared to deal with climate change,” said Louise Bedsworth, a research fellow at the institute and co-author of the report. “In some areas, we need to be acting now.”

Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.

From the PPIC Press Release:

Some California institutions, such as water agencies and electrical utilities, are already preparing for the inevitable effects of climate change. But others have yet to prepare effectively for the challenges of a warmer California, according to a report released today by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC).

Even if the state’s ambitious efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions are successful, California needs an integrated policy to prepare for climate changes that will affect the economy, the environment, and the daily lives of residents, the report recommends.

PPIC also released a second report, a survey of California city and county governments that finds roughly three-quarters of those surveyed are involved in activities related to climate change. This survey was conducted in association with the Institute for Local Government.

The first report, Preparing California for a Changing Climate, explores California’s readiness for the increasing storm surges, heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and other inevitable effects of global warming. The report concludes that some institutions have been more responsive than others. For instance, water agencies and electrical utilities, which are obligated to provide direct services to the public, are actively trying to increase their readiness. In addition, the Coastal Commission and Bay Conservation and Development Commission are currently addressing the challenges of sea level rise. But much remains to be done in other areas – including flood management, ecosystem conservation, public health, and air quality planning.

Read the rest of this press release from the PPIC by clicking here. You can read the PPIC Report by clicking here. (Please note: this report will be added to the “Research and Publications” page on Aquafornia’s Information Desk under the heading “Climate Change”.)

November 18, 2008 · Filed Under Climate change & water supply