Climate change effects extend far beyond the very real and urgent crisis faced by California communities that are running out of water (“Climate Issues Moved to Fore in California by Governor,” news article, May 20).
Millions of Californians now rely on groundwater contaminated by agricultural runoff and industrial chemicals. Drought-related dust and wildfires intensify asthma, respiratory diseases and Valley Fever. Less agricultural production means poorer nutrition, fewer jobs and higher food prices for the entire country.
A climate crisis is also a health crisis, and we must first direct solutions and resources to our most vulnerable and already affected communities.
Yes, we need electric cars and reduced carbon emissions, but we need more than just a tweak to the systems put in place when California was home to less than 12 million people and was at least one degree cooler.
We must begin to incorporate adaptation and mitigation strategies into every decision we make — agricultural, environmental, energy, public health and economic. If we want to save lives and the planet, we have to think of climate change as more than a climate issue.
Date: May 26, 2014