Month: March 2017

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How Environmental Groups View California’s Climate Program

Guerin, E. (2017, February 24). Environmental Groups Say California’s Climate Program Has

Not Helped Them. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from

http://www.npr.org/2017/02/24/515379885/environmental-groups-say-californias-climate-program-has-not-helped-them

 

While California’s Cap-and-Trade system has great potential, many people from small towns have seen no decrease in emissions. One of these towns is Wilmington, where the chances of getting cancer are 2x that of other places; studies even show that emissions have increased since the implementation of the system. The problem with this is that people question whether change is actually happening for the good of the people. If there are no improvements in smaller towns, how can they know other people are getting the support they need?

 

This article relates to environmental science because the system that was implemented to combat climate change is currently being questioned. People in this one town are constantly driven past by diesel trucks, and family members have died of cancer due to this. I think it is sad to see how people in harm’s way despite there being regulations set to prevent this type of thing from happening. Hopefully there can be more help given to the people who need it the most.

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Is The California Drought Over?

Can Someone Just Tell Us Whether The California Drought Is Over Or Not? (2017, March 10).

Retrieved March 11, 2017, from https://www.good.is/articles/the-california-drought-persists

 

While it looks like California has more than enough water, it is not out of the drought yet. The reason for this is with the millions of people using water everyday, there is a hidden “overdraft” that adds up. Californians simply use more water than they get back. After the drought depleted many water sources, it takes a while for them to recharge. Worst of all, the water usage is expected to double by 2050. Regulations need to be implemented to stabilize the water supply in California.

 

This is directly linked to environmental science because climate change has essentially screwed California over. It may look like California is free now, but below the surface, the water problem is going to get worse with the growing population. I think it is scary that the state we live in is facing the largest problem with climate change and water supply. Thankfully, it is also the state that is taking a lead in conquering it.

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California’s Climate Is Not Improving

O’Connor, L. (2017, March 05). California’s Wild Climate Will Only Get More Volatile As

Temperatures Rise. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/california-climate-temperature_us_58a49f38e4b03df370dca5cf

 

As California has almost come out a severe drought, researchers can see this is only a warning sign. Climate change is having an extreme effect on weather, and especially in California, with its large population. One recent example of the dangers of climate change is the failure of the Oroville Dam. This source of water was extremely dry and when heavy amounts of precipitation hit California, the dam overfilled. The problem is Oroville is not the only dam that is not fit for situations like this. Thankfully, California is ready to spend $400 million on fixing up dams and preventing more destruction.

 

This is related to environmental science because climate change is having a direct effect on weather patterns, causing unexpected amounts of water and costing millions of dollars. I think that we could definitely learn from this and hopefully people will see that climate change is real and ready to destroy. While it is good that we are almost out of the severe drought, we will only see lengthier and deadlier dry spells.

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How Can California Meet It’s Climate Change Goals?

California won’t meet its climate change goals without a lot more housing density in its cities.

(2017, March 6). Retrieved March 11, 2017, from http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-housing-climate-change-goals-20170306-story.html

 

Last year, California pledged to get its emissions down to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. This is an extreme challenge to face, but many people stay hopeful. According to Los Angeles Times, the only possible way to do this is to increase the amount of homes in urban areas so people will be able to use public transportation. Another goal is to have 40% of new cars be electric, which will be extremely hard seeing how costly it is but if regulations are put in place, it may happen.

 

The reason this is related to environmental science is because california is one of the largest states, and it must follow its pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are polluting the environment. I think it is cool that California is taking a stand, but the people are not going to be happy. It is going to get fairly compact in the coming years and we are not going to be comfortable. I truly believe we can reach this goal, but we will need everyone’s participation.

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Climate Change Will Destroy California’s Snowpack

Waymouth, B. (2017, March 09). Climate change puts California’s snowpack in jeopardy in

future droughts. Retrieved March 11, 2017, from http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/climate-change-puts-california-s-snowpack-under-the-weather

 

According to a UCLA newsroom article, California has limited time before one of its major snowpacks melts completely. The Sierra Nevada snowpack is an extremely important source of water; this particular snowpack provides over 60 percent of the state’s water through dams and reservoirs. As climate change becomes an increasingly dangerous topic, California needs to find a way to preserve its snowpacks disappear during droughts because with the current rates of emissions, the snowpack is said to decrease by 85% by the end of the century. One idea that could potentially solve this problem is to use groundwater aquifers as a storage mechanism.

 

The reason this is linked to environmental science is because humans need snowpacks and sources of water to live in places that we call home. If we do not stop emitting greenhouse gases, we will no longer see snowpacks during droughts. I believe that this is a massive problem that we need to overcome as soon as possible, and we can all help by decreasing our output. Hopefully we can get out of this drought and see the water sources back to a healthy level.

 

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Federal agencies seek repair delays at Oroville Dam

Fitchette, T. (2017, March 03). Federal agencies seek repair delays at Oroville Dam. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from http://www.westernfarmpress.com/regulatory/federal-agencies-seek-repair-delays-oroville-dam

 

This article is about the delays on the repairs on the Oroville Dam. This is due to the risk of harming fish further downstream in the Feather River. The author finds that the delays to be ironic and could be harmful to human life. They point to multiple times where the City of Modesto put harmful materials, sewage, chemicals in the Feather River and put no concern for the fish in the decision. It is also stated that the Dam needs immediate attention or human lives could be lost in a catastrophic failure.

 

I agree that the Oroville Dam needs to be fixed as soon as possible but it is still very important to take the wildlife in consideration. Due to the recent floods there could be an influx of fish in the Feather River and need to be taken care of. As for the Author’s claims that the City of Modesto has not put these fish into consideration before and that they all of a sudden do I have a few ideas. There is the possibility that they have and it is found that the fish would be fine if a certain level of toxin is added, less concentrated in the river. It is also a possibility that the larger population of fish could have changed the risk of hurting the ecosystem.

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How California Regulations Are Polluting The World

Beccaro, T. D. (2017, March 08). How California Regulations Are Polluting The World. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasdelbeccaro/2017/03/08/how-california-regulations-are-polluting-the-world/#8d636b22fd9f

 

In this article makes the claim that the intense regulation that California is so famous for could be hurting the environment more than it helps. This idea known as leakage. As more manufacturing jobs leave the highly regulated California to states and countries with less regulation the pollution continues to rise. The more California puts forth policies like the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 the more those jobs go to others. The more jobs that are pushed out of California the more pollution that could be produced.
I am very surprised by this article. They bring up some every interesting points about the possibility that pollution is being caused by the harsh regulations of California. It is worth a look to see if the moving of companies from California a major problem when it comes to climate change. I have a feeling that that is a much lower portion of the global production of greenhouse gasses than the article makes it sound. I also feel that if California continues to make regulations the rest of the country will continue to follow.

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In the Face of a Trump Environmental Rollback, California Stands in Defiance

Leslie, J. (2017, February 21). In the Face of a Trump Environmental Rollback, California Stands in Defiance. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from http://e360.yale.edu/features/in-the-face-of-trump-environmental-rollback-california-stands-in-defiance

 

In this article it begins with a list of all the environmental regulations that California has put forth throughout the years. Prising all of the improvements we have made, air pollution, building energy conservation, water quality etc. Many of these things are not in line with our new president’s beliefs and has already out the two at odds. While Trump aims to lessen the control of California, while they are taking a new approach. While in the past they relied on the federal government to make regulations they could base thiers off of. Now California will have to fight the federal government to keep the regulations over the country and focus on making their own.
I am so happy that I live in California and that we are such a powerhouse when it comes to technology and environmental reform. While I was willing to give Donald Trump a chance, he has made me too angry and has used up all his chances. When he put Scott Pruitt as head of the EPA I was done and now that he is claiming that CO2 is not a greenhouse gas it just blows my mind. I look forward to the battle between California and the Government, if the Trump administration limits the states then it would be against the republican ideals, states rights.

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California’s air regulator welcomes two lawmakers to its board

Megerian, C. (2017, February 22). California’s air regulator welcomes two lawmakers to its board. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-california-s-top-air-regulator-welcomes-1487794545-htmlstory.html

 

California lawmakers finally have a seat on the California Air Resources Board and hope to change some of the policies that have been neglected. For a while now the lawmakers and agency have had very little collaboration, now that state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) have been placed on the board that lack of collaboration can be fixed. While these two will not have a vote they still might have some sort of say in the policies that will be considered.
I am glad that this change has come, as it means that improvements in air quality can be more effective. State sen. Lara said that “The residents of my district who live in the industrial heart of Southeast Los Angeles County and alongside the nation’s busiest port and trade corridors breathe some of the most polluted air in the nation, and too many suffer from poor health and lowered life expectancy.” This is something that we have been talking about in class, the idea of environmental justice. That the poorest members of society deal with the worst of pollution. If this addition to the California Air Resources Board can change this I am very much in favor.

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President Trump promised California farmers he would ‘start opening up the water.’

Worth, K., & Mizner, M. (2017, February 21). President Trump promised California farmers he would ‘start opening up the water.’ Can he? Retrieved March 12, 2017, from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/president-trump-promised-california-farmers-start-opening-water-can/

 

This article is about President Trump’s want to change the amount of water being sent to farmers in the central valley. He claims that he will be opening up water to the farmers instead of letting three inch fishes take it. He is talking about the delta smelt an endangered species of fish that has been protected by the California government for a long time. The main problem with Trump’s claim is that the federal government doesn’t have a lot of power when it comes to controlling water flow in California. The only thing he can do is either negotiate with California or change federal laws such as the endangered species act.

 

I do not support Trump or his want to remove protections of endangered species like the delta smelt. While I believe the farms in the central valley are essential to California’s economy there are other ways to solve their problems, other than getting more water. The agriculture businesses in California already use 80 percent of the state’s water. I believe that if they were to use more efficient and less wasteful techniques to water plants that would be beneficial to them and the environment. For instance if they used drip irrigation than they would use less water, which means they would have to pay less and help the environment.