Cal Matters. (2023, May 9). Mangoes and agave in the Central Valley: California farmers try new crops to cope with climate change. Retrieved from https://calmatters.org/environment/climate-change/2023/05/california-farmers-climate-change/

The article discusses how climate change is impacting California farmers. The state is already experiencing more extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and heat waves. These events are making it difficult for farmers to grow crops and raise livestock. In turn, farmers are diversifying their crops to better withstand the changing conditions and to ensure a consistent yield. This shift highlights the necessity for agricultural resilience strategies while extreme weather conditions are so prevalent in California.

Climate change is causing the state’s climate to become increasingly variable. This means that farmers are not sure what to expect from year to year, which makes it difficult to plan their crops. As a result of climate change California farmers are facing increasing financial challenges. I was impressed by farmers’ innovative and adaptive approach to protecting their crops during this uncertain time. It’s encouraging to witness their proactive response to the challenges posed by shifting climate patterns however seems like a passive approach. I believe instead, farmers and the rest of the general public should focus on preventative efforts such as lowering their carbon emissions. I find it interesting and, at the same time, sad that farmers are forced to spend more money on water, irrigation, and crop insurance for climate change issues that humans have vast influence over. Obviously climate change in this part of California can impact food supplies for everyone since a high percentage of food is grown and processed in the central valley.  

UC Irvine. (2023, June 12). Human caused climate change to balance for increase in California wildfires. Retrieved from https://news.uci.edu/2023/06/12/human-caused-climate-change-to-blame-for-increase-in-californias-wildfires/

Scientists from UC Irvine conducted a study, finding that nearly all the recent summer wildfires were caused by human caused climate change. They modeled past natural wildfire activity and then factored in human climate change effects to predict future forest burn areas. Scientific evidence points to the role of anthropogenic factors, such as fossil fuel emissions, in exacerbating these fire-prone conditions, emphasizing the urgent need for climate action to halt the escalating risks for deadly wildfires in California. The article goes on to discuss that the average summer burn area in forests in northern and central California has increased fivefold between 1996 and 2021 compared to between 1971 and 1995, pointing straight to human’s to mitigate these seemingly yearly disasters.

Wildfires are obviously bad for the communities directly affected however in addition the threat of wildfires causes insurance rates to rise which impacts everyone in the state. As dejecting as these wildfires every year canceling sports or work throughout California are, this study does point to some hope for the future. As outlined, if wildfires are caused by humans then humans can drastically limit the spread by limiting their overall footprint. The scientists in this study suggest reducing carbon emissions, pursuing sustainable transportation and sustainable energy production can lead to a less deadly impact of wildfires in California. 

Cal Poly News. (2023, August 9). How Does Climate Change Impact California Ocean Temperatures? Retrieved from https://www.calpoly.edu/news/how-does-climate-change-impact-california-ocean-temperatures-cal-poly-study-investigates

A team at Cal Poly explored how climate change impacts ocean temperatures off California’s central coast. This research underscores the significance of understanding climate-ocean interactions and their ecological consequences. They found that certain environmental conditions such as the lack of upwelling leads to an enhanced risk for extreme marine heat waves and cold spells, subsequently making El Nino much more frequent and intense. As the articles details, through these El Nino events, both water and atmospheric temperatures rise rapidly, servelry damaging immediate surrounding ecosystems. The warmer water temperatures stress marine life and make them more vulnerable to disease. Through data analysis, the Cal Poly researchers discovered that they are able to predict these extreme heat and cold spells by tracking both climate change models and upwelling.

This article similarly points to the economic impact of climate change on California. As the gradual, slow process of climate change commonly appears throughout the news today, this article shed light on the extreme side of climate change. I was surprised by the close correlation between ocean dynamics and extreme weather patterns throughout California. The study’s findings emphasize the urgency of addressing climate change, leaving me with a heightened awareness of the relationship between human activity, ocean patterns and weather fronts.

Harvey, C. (2023, August 2). California Waves Have Growth a Foot Taller because of Climate Change. Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/california-waves-have-grown-a-foot-taller-because-of-climate-change/

The study, which was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans, found that average winter wave height has increased by roughly one foot since 1970. Through his usage of waves’ seismic signals, scientist Peter Bromirski discovered that this uptick in wave size directly correlates with global warming’s rapid acceleration. Storms that produce waves measuring 13 feet high and taller have become more common, with twice as many of these events occurring between 1996 and 2016 as they did between 1949 and 1969.

This study discusses the interconnected processes of sea levels and ocean temperatures, its effects on wave dynamics, and the subsequent implications for coastal communities in California. The increase in wave height could make beaches more vulnerable to erosion and would make it more dangerous for people to surf and swim in the ocean. This study also has economic impact because the increase in wave height could contribute to higher real estate insurance rates and possibly would call for the  re-evaluation of the value of many seaside properties. Increase in wave height, combined with other risks from climate change, poses significant threat to coastal communities. While coastal protection measures such as seawalls are possible, those also cost significant money rather than fixing the problem, it simply delays it.

Conybeare, W. (2023, August 4). California partnering with Chinese province to fight climate change. Retrieved August 3, 2023 from https://ktla.com/news/california/california-partnering-with-chinese-province-to-fight-climate-change/

This article is a news article from a press release from the Governor’s office about how California is partnering with the Chinese Province of Hainan to fight climate change. Both partners committed to cutting air pollution, developing carbon neutrality plans, advancing clean energy, and accelerating zero emission vehicles. In a quote from Governor Newsome, he outlined that despite our distance, both nations, although vastly different, are striving to leave this planet better than we found it.

Hainan is one of the smallest provinces in China and it’s unclear if the Governor has the legal authority to make a deal like this given the tension between the two counties. This is likely an announcement to help Newsom politically and so China can show good efforts but nothing is likely to come out of this agreement as no direct plan of action was outlined. As the article explores a collaborative effort between two regions working to address the global environmental impact of climate change, the agreement is not legally binding so either side could back out at any time without penalty. California previously announced similar agreements with Canada, New Zealand, and Japan. California itself is one of the world’s largest economies and this pact with Hainan shows that California has the economic power to advance climate change with other countries. It also shows the political interest in this issue such that it got the Governor’s attention. He can now be seen on the world stage helping climate change. While very symbolic, there is value in keeping the issue at the forefront in the media and his political agenda.

Allen, S. (2023, July 4). 30% of Americans cite climate change as a motivator to move in 2023. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/features/americans-moving-climate-change/ 

This article is about the rapid movement of Americans due to climate change. Statistics such as 51% of Americans having unexpected moves in the last two years, ⅓ of people citing climate change as a reason to move, and 34% of participants saying better weather was a reason they were moving to a new place. Also recent hurricane Ian is likely to be up to 67 billion dollars in damage. It was found in 2021 14.5 million homes were impacted by natural disasters. There have been a number of moves from coastal areas due to erosion so they physically cannot live in their homes anymore.“People are also moving away from areas prone to wildfires or extreme temperatures. Widespread fires that hit California, Montana, Oregon and Washington State and the deadly heatwave that the Pacific Northwest experienced in June 2021 prompted people to evacuate, and many opted not to return,” James Barati a top tier moving company owner says. Places like New Orleans are having more storms with not much time in between them. Overall, multiple places in America are on a decline because of climate change.

This article tackled a lot of different types of disaster that occur such as erosion, increase in storms, heat increase. These things all correlate because they are all impacts due to climate change that are affecting average people’s everyday life. One lady in the article mentioned she had started a degree in New Orleans in 2008 and due to circumstances she has not finished it but because of the rapid increase of hurricanes she feels trapped but she cannot restart a degree somewhere else. People facing health problems are probably least likely to be able to move, which is concerning because the people in poverty are probably the people most affected because they would have medical issues they would not be able to pay to treat as well. Overall the climate is affecting people in all areas across the country and we should really take into serious consideration the impacts this is having on people in these areas.

Plumer, B. (2023, March 20). Climate change is speeding toward catastrophe. the Next Decade is crucial, U.N. panel says. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/20/climate/global-warming-ipcc-earth.html 

This article is about how the earth is heading in the direction of hitting a critical threshold for global warming within the next decade if we do not reduce fossil fuels. It is said for the temperature to rise 2.7 degrees above pre industrial levels sometime in the early 2030’s. This is significant because at the Paris agreement of 2015 everyone agreed to keep the number at 1.5 degrees. The impacts of climate change beyond this number could be catastrophic. There is still hope if we reduce greenhouse gasses by 50% but action must be taken soon. The biggest fossil fuel users, China and the United States continue to accept new fossil projects. Along with passing 1.5 degrees this would also affect water scarcity, malnutrition, and deadly heat waves. Zero emissions should be met by 2040 but most countries have goals set between 2050-70 which is not soon enough. Even though 18 countries have reduced their emissions in the past decade, it was also found the temperature increase is more disruptive than previously thought.

In this article it is prevalent that the main idea is the future is in our hands and whether we decide to make a change for the better and work towards fixing climate change, or whether our earth declines to points we cannot come back from is in our hands. Basically we are not reaching the goals we need to be reaching quick enough to be able to make a difference that will save the planet. At 1.5 degrees there are still coral reefs and things can be revived, however once we hit 2.7 this will not be the case. Not only will the planet be at risk, but humanity as well. Fresh water on islands will become less accessible and heat waves will become more intense. Other factors of climate change will amp up making it much harder for humans to live. This will become more unbearable to the point of possibility of way more deaths. So this is a serious matter not only for the people and places (habitats) it affects, but also everyday humans will be affected as well.

NASA. (2023, August 22). NASA maps key heat wave differences in Southern California – climate change: Vital signs of the planet. NASA. https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3280/nasa-maps-key-heat-wave-differences-in-southern-california/ 

The article talks about the rising temperatures and how people get acclimated to where they live. It is predicted that California will get more heat waves in the future due to climate change. To see the effects they tested how strong heat in southern california would affect it. They found they can not just look at air temperature to find the impacts and see how anomalus conditions make a difference. According to the national weather service heat waves are the number 1 killer of weather. Heat waves are also becoming more humid from swelling moisture from the sea surface. They did a study to compare a heat wave in august vs september and found even though the september heat wave was cooler, it was more humid which lead to way more heat stress. This shows how you must account for other factors than just the temperatures. Another factor is that different places feel the heat differently. For example inland vs coastal makes a difference on the impacts of the heat wave. This should all also affect energy plans that are created and all of the different variables should be taken into consideration.

This article made me think about how worrying it is that the topic of discussion is the future preparedness of heat waves that are to come. The fact that they are studying heat wave patterns to see how they affect different areas and how they change in California is concerning. It is also important to have this information because I could better prepare myself and understand heat waves that are to come. I think that humidity is a big factor in these heat waves as well as location and all the separate variables are important to play into consideration. I wonder what are some good solutions to the situation. Obviously the heat waves are due to climate change but I would love to know if there is anything I can do to have a good impact on the climate. I also wonder how the heat waves impact different people and if the slowly changing climate has a huge effect on people or do they have time to adapt to it because it is a slow process, and the heat is just slowly rising. 

Tyson, Alec, et al. “What the Data Says about Americans’ Views of Climate Change.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 9 Aug. 2023, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/08/09/what-the-data-says-about-americans-views-of-climate-change/#:~:text=When%20asked%20what%20they%20think,should%20do%20more%20than%20others. 

The article basically talks about the types of adults that are open to changing their ways for the climate such as phasing out coal, and using renewable energy sources. Generally speaking the results showed that younger adults who are generally more democratic are more keen on using things that are better for the environment. One part of the article says, “nearly the same share of Americans (69%) favored the U.S. taking steps to become carbon neutral by 2050,” which is more than half. This seems to be a trend throughout the article that over half the people believe we should be working towards helping climate change today. Except when it comes to Republicans, which is said, “75% of Republicans ages 65 and older prioritize expanding the production of oil, coal and natural gas.”

This article sheds a light on different perspectives people have on climate change. Overall most young democrats are said to want to be helping the environment whereas older people are more against it. 59% of Americans say they are not responsible for helping provide funding for renewable energy in developing countries. Which is kind of upsetting because even though people see there is a problem they do not want to actually find the means to take action. In an ideal world there would be funding through governments that was substantial enough to cover costs of helping better the environment. However, the people who can provide for others and seem to believe they want what’s best for the environment but do not want to be a part of making it happen. Although a UN conference recently put in a “lost and damage” fund for countries that are vulnerable to climate change which is good because that is a start for change and a step closer to funding to make a change.

Roston, E. and Kaufman L. (2023, August 14). How Carbon Capture Is Getting New Life With US Help. Retrieved 2023, August 20 from https://www.washingtonpost.com/bus iness/energy/2023/08/14/us-carbon-capture-efforts-challenges-and-impact-explained/d3d5848e-3aaf-11ee-aefd-40c039a855ba_story.html 

Top climate experts have said that the current 2 billion metric tons of carbon removed mostly through tree planting is insufficient. In order to limit global temperature rises going forward carbon capture efforts have to improve and increase dramatically. Carbon capture and storage and direct air capture are the two most common methods used to decrease carbon levels. Both methods can face issues when it comes to public opinion, cost, and scalability but the leading efforts to increase carbon capture by increasing funding greatly for both methods of carbon reduction.

This article brings up a little-discussed option for trying to avoid the worst effects of global warming. The industry of carbon capture is still in its infancy and has been viewed by many as a waste of money due to the high cost relative to the amount of carbon it actually collects. Some are also concerned that embracing carbon capture may lead to a slower transition from fossil fuels. I think that it is a very intriguing possibility. If its efficiency could be improved and if it was given sufficient funding it could potentially allow us to have a much less catastrophic transition from fossil fuels. Massive portions of the country are reliant on fossil fuels and nearly two million jobs rely on fossil fuel industries. If we could decrease the impact of fossil fuel power plants the transition could go much more smoothly. I also think it would be very fitting for technology and innovation to be the thing to save us, as it has been our own industrialization that has put us in this position. Overall carbon capture should not be viewed as our savior as it is still in the early stages, but it is absolutely worth devoting more effort and funding to because of how great the benefits could be should it prove to be effective.