Resources, guidance, and technical assistance for planners and communities to plan and implement local climate change resilience goals. The 'triple-dip La Nia' explained and how it affects the weather in your area. Flights were cancelled. Analysis by Maxine Joselow. Brooke Staggs covers the environment for Southern California News Groups chain of 11 newspapers. Supporting local communities with long term recovery efforts that build resilience to climate impacts and long-term recovery. Republicans have blasted California for embracing many of the liberal policies backed by Biden, saying residents are fleeing the state. But, he said, there is also strong evidence that the *strongest* atmospheric rivers in California (like those being experienced during this storm sequence) are very likely to be stronger and to produce more precipitation as the climate warms.. DOI: 10.1007/s00382-023-06776-w . The proposal would make permanent measures that California water regulators have imposed on a temporary basis. Thirty-one percent of voters said they were somewhat or greatly affected by the heavy rain, snow and flooding that occurred this year, including 8% who said they experienced a great deal of impact. To my mind, increasing wildfire risk may cause some of the biggest shifts in this regard, especially as it becomes more difficult and expensive to purchase insurance, Hanak said. INSKEEP: Knowing the science and the history that you do, as you drive around your native state, as you look around at the roads, at the houses, at the landscape, do you think that California is built for this change of weather to survive it, to endure it? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also planned to launch the $575 million Climate Resilience Regional Challenge this week to help coastal communities build resilience to extreme weather. There's no easy fix. The study simulated a specific atmospheric river storm that hit Northern California in two waves in 2017 under past, present and future climate scenarios. Biden signed a $430 billion bill last August that was touted as the biggest climate package in U.S. history. Launched during Earth Week, the new California Climate Action website connects Californians with programs that support a transition to a greener, more sustainable future - including zero emission vehicle (ZEV) incentives, home energy upgrades and turf replacement rebates. To date, the agency has announced more than $370 million in awards from those programs. It has already changed. Schools were closed Wednesday in the San Francisco area as more than 8,000 sandbags were given out in anticipation of extensive flooding. Atmospheric rivers can grow up to 2,000 miles long, 500 miles wide and two miles deep, Ralph wrote, adding that they transport on average enough vapor to equal 25 times the flow rate of the Mississippi River where it pours into the Gulf of Mexico.. Such impacts will only grow as the planet gets hotter, scientists say. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. During these meetings, attendees will be invited to provide input on the draft framework for the Regional Synthesis Reports (regional reports), identify local priorities for the Fifth Assessment to address, and partners interested in being part of regional author teams. Sept. 14: Final bill passage deadline This is the last day for the House and Assembly to pass bills this session. In the past year alone, the state experienced severe drought, a record-shattering heatwave and devastating floods driven by extreme weather. I think Republicans have a different mindset, and perhaps that leads to greater tolerance of some of the hardships that they may be seeing around them, DiCamillo said. WASHINGTON, June 18 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will visit Palo Alto, California on Monday and announce over $600 million in climate investments to help coastal communities around the country fight climate change, a White House official said on Sunday. As of Wednesday, snowpack was third highest in 40 years, more than 170% of normal. "All the ingredients are in place for two weeks of wild weather especially in the Western U.S.," private meteorologist Ryan Maue said in an email. A different 'Big One' is approaching. This is really grass where the only time you walk on it is to mow it, said Tracy Quinn, president and chief executive of Heal the Bay, which supported AB 1572 along with the Natural Resources Defense Council. The ban on decorative grass would take effect in phases between 2027 and 2031. Aug . Great white sharks along Cape Cod take center stage in Nat Geos Sharkfest: Really rare footage pretty riveting, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. It's not that the climate is changing. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:California has made significant progress on implementing coordinated actions to build climate resilience and protect people from the accelerating impacts of the climate crisis. From hurricanes in the east, to wildfires in the west, to tornadoes tearing through Americas heartland, every community faces some level of disaster risk. The state has recently experienced record-high temperatures, and warming is expected to continue over the century. AB 1572 would prohibit the use of drinking water for purely decorative grass along roads, in medians, at public and institutional properties, and at businesses and multifamily housing developments. Hanak noted that the risks are often greatest for lower-income communities and residents with fewer resources and less capacity to adapt. And we're now living in a new climate. Despite those headwinds, Melissa Romero, senior legislative manager for California Environmental Voters, argues the that the state has a moral obligation to double down on climate issues in 2023. Biden also met with California Gov. What Governor Newsom said:Climate change is happening all around us. Part of the issue, OBrien found in a 2021 paper, is that researchers are not always consistent in how they define an atmospheric river. That includes both how much water is there and the wind that transports the vapor, she said. Commentary: Why did Center Theatre Group really halt programming at the Mark Taper Forum? March 1: Hazardous waste report The Department of Toxic Substances Control must publish its first ever Hazardous Waste Management Report, as a baseline for creating a statewide Hazardous Waste Management Plan by March 1, 2025. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. The Compost: Big oil just scored a big win in the California legislature, The Compost: Heres how to reduce your e-waste footprint, LAUSD pitches in to save sea lions stricken by coastal toxic algae bloom, Save your food scraps, save the Earth: More cities and states look to composting, Shell oil pipeline spill fouls farms, river in Niger Delta, environmental issues in Southern California, OC tourists video of man defacing the Colosseum in Rome makes international news, El Torito in Orange is closing its doors after 33 years in business. Under California's new climate change blueprint, oil would be almost eliminated by 2045. For me, its personal. Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders on Monday agreed to a $310.8-billion spending plan that will reduce investments in fighting climate change and. The institutes survey from July 2022 found that nearly 7 in 10 Californians think the effects of climate change have already begun, and 8 in 10 say climate change is a serious threat to Californias future economy and way of life. Q: Is the development of offshore wind energy farms in the U.S. killing whales? Some examples include: Last month, the Governor visited a projectthat is being implemented as part of the Salton Sea Management Program to enhance wetland habitat and improve public health and environmental conditions at the Salton Sea. Just last week, State Farm halted home insurance sales in California, citing rising costs and wildfire risks. Climate change is fueling an insurance crisis. Every year we lose thousands of acres of desert habitat home to myriad species of incredibly important plants and animals like Joshua trees, bighorn sheep and desert tortoises to development, sometimes for poorly-sited renewable energy, Herbinson said. What are the odds of that? But in the year ahead California is expected to face a deficit of up to $24 billion, and thats without factoring in a potential recession. Were seeing a lot of new members come in with big climate ambitions, so I think thats going to translate into big climate wins this year.. Editors note:FactCheck.org does not accept advertising. The poll was administered online in English and Spanish among 7,465 California registered voters. The White House said the timing of the presidents visit highlighted the growing risk. ", Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group via AP. Oct. 5-15: Orange County Sustainability Decathlon Orange County will host its first sustainability decathlon at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. NPR's Steve Inskeep asks climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh of Stanford University about the wild weather in California this year. For example, he said, the wettest 15-day period on record reported in downtown San Francisco, with 19 inches of rain, occurred in 1862. Climate Change CALIFORNIA'S FUTURE Climate change threatens California's future Global emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) are raising air and water temperatures as well as sea levels, with serious consequences for California. California was hit by a series of nine atmospheric rivers, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration describes as naturally occurring air currents that can create extreme rainstorms and flooding. Detection and attribution studies can help determine whether a human influence on climate variables (for example, temperature) can be distinguished from natural variability, according to a federal report on climate science. Looking at how climate change already is affecting Californians water supply, wildfire risks and more, she said: We really dont have a choice. After some insiders said Bidens early fundraising efforts had gotten off to a slow start, the campaign is hoping to bolster its coffers and report strong second quarter figures in the coming weeks. He said it is impossible to make a formal statement about the effect of climate change on these storms without a detection and attribution study. You might remember the Oroville Dam crisis from about five or six years ago. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, told us all extreme weather events are the result of multiple complex and interrelated processes happening across time and space. June 15: State budget deadline California lawmakers must pass the budget by this date, which will outline all environmental projects that will receive funding in the coming fiscal year. Jan. 31: Deadline for Colorado River agreement The federal government has given California, Arizona and Nevada until Jan. 31 to agree on a plan to reduce imports from the dwindling Colorado River by up to 30% a year. Since the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, the world's temperature has already increased by about 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit, with more increases coming. Indicators are scientific measurements that track trends and conditions relating to climate change. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. The Climate Adaptation Strategy elevates six key priorities that must drive all resilience actions in California: Strengthen protections for climate-vulnerable communities Bolster public health and safety efforts to protect against increasing climate risks Build a climate-resilient economy As costs escalate for clean water and energy, advocates say its important to ensure that vulnerable communities dont get stuck, yet again, with carrying the heaviest burdens of climate change. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Martin Hoerling, a research meteorologist in the NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory, told us in an email that because the air can hold more water vapor as a consequence of warming, [t]here is a scientific basis to expect, for identical weather patterns today versus in the 19th Century, that a rainstorm would yield about 5% more precipitation today.. If anybody doubts that climate is changing, then they must have been asleep for the last couple of years, President Joe Biden said in California on Jan. 19, after witnessing the destruction left behind by the storms. 200 cyclists, some dressed in costumes, ride their bikes Saturday on the ski slopes during the start of the 33rd edition of the 'GP St-Sylvestre', a new-year snow mountain bike race, in the alpine resort of Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland. Nurse Katie Leonard uses a kayak to bring supplies to Patsy Costello, 88, as she sits trapped in her vehicle Dec. 31 on Astrid Drive in Pleasant Hill, Calif.. Costello drove her car on the flooded street thinking she could make it, but it stalled in the two feet of water. Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals, Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; editing by Diane Craft, British actor Julian Sands confirmed dead, months after vanishing in California mountains, Over $200 billion potentially stolen from U.S. COVID relief programs, watchdog says, Texas power use breaks record in heat wave -ERCOT, Relentless heat wave scorches US South, air quality deteriorates over Midwest, EU countries, lawmakers reach data rule deal targeting Big Tech, Russia and China hold talks anti-missile defence, Russian Foreign Ministry says, Ex-Trump lawyer Giuliani interviewed in US special counsel's election probe -CNN, Russian missile hits restaurant in Ukraine's Kramatorsk, four dead, Bosnian Serb lawmakers vote to suspend rulings of Bosnia's top court. While Biden did not mention any of his GOP rivals by name, he accused MAGA Republicans of trying to undo the progress Democrats have made on the environment. Accuracy and availability may vary. While we have made great progress over the last year, the climate crisis demands we move further and faster to reduce risks to our people.. You know, our water system is - you know, goes back 50, 100 years. Then following that, we had another historic record-setting drought, and now, you know, that's being interrupted by what we're experiencing this winter. His statement of the 5% number is based on the numbers that they found in that study: that storm-total precipitation increases by about 5-10% per degree C of warming, he said. Since ecosystems like California deserts absorb 10% of the states carbon and are essential to life on Earth, Herbinson said her organizations focus in 2023 will be ensuring that those systems continue to support the biodiversity, including the humans, they contain. Most of the climate change impact on the intensification of atmospheric rivers is caused by whats called the thermodynamic effect, Swain, the climate scientist at UCLA, told us. During brief remarks, Biden announced more than $600 million for climate adaptation projects as part of his visit to the San Francisco Bay Area, a three-day trip that also was slated to include several political fundraisers. Biden is focusing on his environmental record as he gears up for a reelection bid in which he is hoping to shore up the broad coalition that carried him to victory in 2020, which includes younger voters and Democrats for whom climate change is a top concern. The atmospheric rivers, as they're called, have been enough to bring hurricane-level winds, snow on the Hollywood sign, even a couple of tornadoes. Around 80% of atmospheric rivers are accompanied by an extratropical cyclone, research shows. You can't - you're getting wet. OBrien agreed. Projections also show in a warming climate, because the air can hold more moisture, there is the potential that atmospheric rivers will drop more rain or snow, as weve explained. There is also high confidence heavy precipitation will follow the rate of about 7% per 1C of global warming.. Our legal rights for water go back a century. By . Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) State of California, Governor NewsomSigns Budget Legislation6.27.23, Governor Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments 6.27.23, Governor Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Atkins and Assembly Speaker Rendon Issue Statements on Budget Agreement, California Gets Nearly $2 Billion in Federal Funding to Boost High Speed Internet Access, Nations First Gas Price Gouging Law in Effect. Jan. 10: Initial state budget deadline Gov. Her work has triggered FBI investigations, landed her appearances on national TV and radio outlets, and helped her win some of the top journalism awards in the western United States. Maue said the big driver is a three-year La Nina natural temporary cooling of the equatorial Pacific Ocean that alters world weather patterns that just won't quit. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. DIFFENBAUGH: Yeah. What climate models are showing, she said, is that in a future warmer world, atmospheric rivers will contribute more than other storms to Californias rainfall total annually, and that extreme atmospheric river events will become more extreme and thats mostly explained by the increase in water vapor. A pickup truck braves a flooded roadway in the Tulare Lake Basin. She also occasionally teaches community college and writes nonfiction, with her co-authored book Stealing from the Worlds Best Schools available now wherever books are sold. What are they? . But climate change has also been linked to an increase in frequency of events called. Theres simply no president in modern American history thats done more to deliver on the promise of addressing head-on the issue of climate change, Newsom said after meeting with Biden. Heres your 2023 timeline for California, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Heres your 2023 timeline for California environmental issues, Sacramento Snapshot: California could create inventory of cities greenhouse gas emissions, Growing seed bank is Noahs Ark for Southern California desert plants. These frequent and intense events fueled by climate change demonstrate that mitigation funding continues to serve as one of our most powerful tools in reducing the impacts were seeing, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in a statement last month. Portions of the Safer Food Packaging and Cookware Act also are set to kick in Jan. 1. A sprawling federal report released late last year found that climate change is unleashing far-reaching and worsening calamities in every region of the nation, and the economic and human toll will only increase unless humans move faster to slow the planets warming. With those priorities in mind, heres a timeline of some key climate and environment issues expected to affect Southern Californians in 2023. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. The Coming. Go to calearninglab.org. 2:24. Of those who reported a great deal of impact, two-thirds said they were somewhat or very concerned that in the next few years, they may need to move away from their homes due to extreme weather events in their area. "Climate change today has probably. Extreme weather caused by climate change means stronger and more frequent storms, more intense droughts, longer wildfire seasons all of which threaten communities across California.. All rights reserved. Why its important:Thereport released todayshows nearly three-quarters of the Strategys 350+ metrics across nearly 150 actions are in progress or completed, with the remaining metrics in the early stages of scoping or beginning project work. A helpful guide for anyone who is just getting started learning about or implementing CEQA, Review of environmental documents prepared for CEQA, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Reducing the potential environmental impacts of proposed projects, Resources to help practitioners use and comply with CEQA, Technical guidance and other resources to help draft and update general plans, Resources to support transportation planning in California, including SB 743, Information about OPRs collaboration with the military on land use planning energy policy, Resources to support local governments with sustainable, resilient land use planning, Introduction to climate change risk and resilience, state initiatives, and resources for taking action, Integrated Climate Adaptation & Resiliency Program (ICARP), Statewide collaboration to prepare California for the impacts of climate change. And California, where there's been a more than 20-year megadrought that worsens wildfires, is getting much-needed rain and snow too much of it, actually. Atmospheric rivers are long and narrow corridors in the lower atmosphere that transport water vapor from the tropics to the poles like rivers in the sky,as NOAA explains. The poll also comes ahead of the expected return of El Nio later this year. More information: Tamara Shulgina et al, Observed and projected changes in snow accumulation and snowline in California's snowy mountains, Climate Dynamics (2023). And the question is, you know, how do we not just catch up with the climate change that's already happened, but how do we leapfrog ahead to the continued climate change that we know is going to happen in the future? DIFFENBAUGH: Well, so we know that in California's history, when many of these atmospheric rivers come in succession, that it's caused extremely widespread flooding in the state. The latest news, analysis and insights from our politics team. "Excessive rainfall over already saturated soils will result in rapid rises on creeks, streams and rivers as well as flooding in urban areas," forecasters said in a report. Roads and levees in California were washed out early in the week. You're thinking that's going to stop at some point, and there'll be another desperate drought situation? But did it affect the storms intensity? Here, the answer is probably yes, climate change thus far has likely increased both the intensity and likelihood of seeing such an intense period of precipitation in California, he wrote in an email. I believe that Californians have been conditioned now to value water, and to conserve as much as they can because there may be years when we dont have much, he said. Climate change essentially means that Southern California's conditions are creeping north up the coast and into the valley, while Oregon and Washington are becoming more like Northern California. There is really broad agreement among stakeholders, including many water agencies, that there really is no place for nonfunctional turf in our communities, Quinn said. Officials say the area could remain underwater for at least two years. For the third consecutive year, CAL FIRE completedapproximately 100,000 acres of wildfire fuel reduction projects. Californias Climate Adaptation Strategy recognizes that extreme weather and other climate impacts threaten communitiesin every part of our state and accelerates actions to protect the most vulnerable. Republican presidential candidates are also rushing to boost their fundraising totals as the end of the quarter nears. Their contribution to the water supply is crucial: A few of them provide, on average, 30% to 50% of the U.S. West Coasts annual precipitation. Ellen Hanak, vice president and director of the Water Policy Center at the Public Policy Institute of California, said concerns about worsening weather extremes are warranted. Statewide council that guides OPR in the development of integrated and equitable climate resilience strategies. Intense atmospheric river sequences have the potential to create a catastrophic megaflood, according to research. While Wehner is correct to offer an important reminder of how rain events are becoming more extreme, historical records when examined carefully provide no less important reminders that nature (withouthuman modification) can deliver remarkable rains alone, he added. Adaptation in action:The Climate Adaptation Strategy comprises nearly 150 actions across six priorities that are being implemented through concrete projects all across California. President Joe Biden will visit Palo Alto, California on Monday and announce over $600 million in climate investments to help coastal communities around the country fight climate change, a White . From space, sky, sea, and land, NASA provides detailed climate data and research to the world. Nearly 70% of registered voters say they expect that volatile fluctuations between severe drought and periods of heavy rain and snow what some call weather whiplash will become more common in the future due to climate change, according to a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times. So hes doing a bit of inference with that statement rather than doing a careful D&A study. But although the effects of climate change in atmospheric rivers have been studied using different approaches, uncertainty remains. This is really consistent with our understanding of climate change. In general, climate change raises the average temperature and decreases snowfall by turning it to rain. The official trip served the dual purpose of allowing Biden to showcase his legislative record on the environment while also bolstering his political position with a key constituency ahead of his reelection bid. Federal agencies and experts say there is no link to offshore wind activities, although they continue to study the potential risks. While environmental advocates say the focus for 2023 remains the development of a safe, reliable and fossil-free energy grid, two key phrases also repeatedly come up environmental justice and biodiversity. Its likely that more Californians will have to move away from their homes due to changing climate conditions notably, increasing wildfire risk, Hanak said. Are there still human remains in Titanic wreckage? The things Americans value most are at risk, the National Climate Assessment authors, who represent a broad range of federal agencies, wrote in the draft report. Solutions What Is Being Done to Solve Climate Change? Francis points to a "blob" of warm sea water off the Aleutian Islands, a phenomena that is happening more often, and a ''crazy warm" Arctic Wednesday it was 5.8 degrees warmer than the 1979-2000 average as part of what's juicing up the Pacific. Swain told us the thermodynamic contribution is likely responsible for 80% of the projected change in atmospheric river intensity and the projected extreme precipitation increases. Huy Fong. Although responses were sharply divided along political lines, they seemed to reflect a growing unease among residents about the current and future effects of global warming on California. We've called Noah Diffenbaugh, who's a climate scientist at Stanford University. Jan. 18, 2023 Mike Anderson, official state climatologist for California, suggested that the recent series of atmospheric rivers long plumes of vapor that can pour over the West Coast was a. There was an even greater divide among those who are concerned that extreme weather will get worse 91% of Democrats compared with only 28% of Republicans, the poll found. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. California directed $42 million last year to help regionstransition irrigated lands to meet groundwater sustainability goals. But its too soon, at least in my opinion, to be able to say whether or not, without doing some more studies., On Jan. 4, in the midst of the storms, Michael Wehner, a senior scientist in the Computational Research Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, tweeted what he called a conservative attribution statement..
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