Chu: Climate Change Could Wipe Out California Agriculture (and Maybe Cities)

Articles — By forcechange on February 5, 2009 9:26 am

Energy Secretary Steven Chu warned this week that climate change could wipe out all agriculture in California by the end of the century and also put that state’s cities in peril.  The changing climate is increasing California’s temperatures, prolonging droughts, and melting the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  Chu noted that 90% of that essential snowpack could disappear by century’s end. 

Chu warned that this changing climate and loss of water resources could end California’s entire agricultural industry and make the viability of life in the already arid region tenuous. 

“I don’t think the American public has gripped in its gut what could happen,” Chu told the LA Times. “We’re looking at a scenario where there’s no more agriculture in California,” adding, “I don’t actually see how they can keep their cities going” either.

Chu believes that public education is key to fighting climate change.  (Which makes sense since only 41% of the American public think humans are causing climate change.)  He also supports directing billions of dollars towards renewable energy research and infrastructure, national standards, and a federal cap-and-trade system. 

We find it interesting to note that some of the biggest opponents of climate change legislation are those very parties that have the most to lose from inaction.  This includes the automakers who fought efficiency standards, only to go bust when public sentiments changed and ranchers and farmers mounting a pre-emptive fight against emissions regulations, who could apparently see their entire industry quite literally dry up.  If the end comes for California’s agriculture, as Chu warns, is there any doubt that the farmers will ask the public to save their businesses?  Unfortunately, if the situation is as dire as Chu predicts, there will be no one left there to bail them out.

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