Present Impact of Climate Change
Christen Brown
Climate change activists across the world, frustrated by the inaction of world leaders to address climate change, have transitioned from traditional protests to demonstrative non-violent protests like vandalizing famous works of art and supergluing themselves at various locations. While their methods may be unorthodox, their message is being spread as they make headline news. The message? That climate change is tied to capitalism and has a larger socio economic impact. The activists urge for immediate action to combat climate change through decarbonization and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the activists are impassioned youth concerned about their potential future in a world facing the impacts of climate change. A preview into that future can be seen in the headlines of today. Droughts. Floods. Heatwaves. Our climate crisis has become evident with a crisis of our waters.
The UN Paris climate agreement of 2015 set a goal to achieve a 1.5°C global temperature decrease, but current conditions indicate an increased level of global emissions. Latest projections reported in the UN Synthesis report on October 26th, 2022, show a temperature increase of 2.5-2.9°C. Even with a full implementation of nationally determined contributions with all conditional elements, the peak global mean temperature increase is estimated to reach 2.1-2.4°C this century. With conditions such as carmakers making 400 million more petrol and diesel vehicles than the UN recommended, mitigation methods are not being met. Vulnerable areas are a particular concern for the impacts of climate change, such as agriculture and other aspects of food security, water, and biodiversity. As projections for our global temperature rise, the signs of its impact become increasingly prevalent.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service has reported that data recorded from the U.S. Drought Monitor showed drought in the western United States during the summer of 2021 exceeded all past droughts in the region since 2000. This year, data from July showed more than 32% of land in western states were classified as experiencing extreme or exceptional drought. The most severe conditions reported were in California, Texas, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. The Colorado River is one victim from these droughts which has had far reaching impacts. The Colorado River’s reservoirs are fundamental water sources for the western United States and have been critically impacted by these drought conditions. A press release from the International Boundary and Water Commission on August 16th, 2022, reported, “the current drought is the worst in the 114-year long recorded history and one of the worst over the past 1,200 years. Total system storage of Colorado River reservoirs is 34% of capacity -- the lowest level on record.” These drier conditions are also projected to persist for another decade.
These conditions have overburdened sites such as Lake Mead that, through the overuse of the Colorado River, has reached historic lows in water levels. Reports from September mark Lake Mead's water level at 27% of full capacity. While we can marvel over the discoveries revealed from the low water level (previously sunken boats, old war ships, human remains, and volcanic ash from 12 million years ago,) states’ water supplies are cut, Arizona allocated 21% less, Nevada 8%, and Mexico 7%. Meanwhile California, the state with the largest annual allocation has not had their allocations reduced. This water goes toward irrigation and hydroelectric power for 600,000 acres of farmland in Southern California. Other impacts of lower levels also mean that wildfires are left to burn millions of acres of land. Agriculture and infrastructure may also be affected by these low levels, as the Lake along with Hoover Dam supplies water and power to 25 million people and is critical to cities and agriculture.
Similarly, the Rio Grande, one of the largest rivers in North America, has been impacted by extreme drought and climate change. Parts of the river in New Mexico have recorded low flows thereby affecting regional farmers. In October a decade-long negotiating process was concluded to settle the management of the Rio Grande between New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado. This agreement requires approval from the Supreme Court, but it faces resistance from the federal government and two irrigation districts. With a hearing scheduled in January, the future of the Rio Grande management and water allocation remains unclear to these interested States.
Future climate change mitigation measures must take similar methods as New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado have: collaborating to manage the water and ensuring adequate water flow continues to lower states and countries. As projections indicate that drought conditions are likely to continue, these collaborative methods between states cannot take decades. As the UN’s latest projection of global temperature rise has increased from the Paris climate agreement of 1.5°C, the impacts of climate change will continue to be prevalent. To adopt and mitigate these impacts, collaborative measures which take a hard look at resource management and allocate use holistically must be taken.