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National Climate Assessment Outlines Issues For SoCal
Lake Powell is seen from Alstrom Point in Big Water, Utah, on September 2, 2022.
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Robyn Beck
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Getty Images
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Topline:
The National Climate Assessment, a federal analysis of climate change by the nation’s top scientists that’s presented to Congress every five years since 1990, says that a lot of what we’re already experiencing here in Southern California — drought, flooding, extreme heat and fire — will only worsen if global greenhouse gas emissions aren’t cut significantly within this decade … or soon after.
Why it matters: The report is used by governments, courts and other sectors for important legal and policy decisions about adapting to the escalating impacts of the climate crisis. The report emphasizes the need to adapt in a variety of ways in our region, such as more sustainable water management and improving legal protections for outdoor workers.
What the report says about our neck of the woods: Of five key messages, the top one is that the climate crisis is leading to a drier future overall in the southwest. At the same time, wet years — when they do come — are expected to be even wetter. For example, the report highlights the disproportionate flooding risk that predominantly Black and Latino communities face in south L.A.
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Go deeper:
- From Drought to Deluge: The Story of the Biggest, Wettest Winter in Western History
- The Push To Reimagine LA's Streets And Alleyways To Fight Both Drought And Floods
- How Resilience Hubs Can Help Communities Face The Heat And The Climate Emergency
- The Climate Crisis Is Changing The Definition Of Extreme Heat
- Higher Temperatures And Less Oversight Mean Workers Are At A Growing Risk In The Climate Emergency
- Outdoor Workers Are Lawfully Protected From Extreme Heat. Indoor Workers? Not So Much
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