If you’ve been keeping up with news of the climate crisis, it’s clear that the effects of climate change are having severe consequences for people all over the world. From shortages of natural resources like water and fuel to the destruction of land and property, climate change poses a threat to everyone and should be taken seriously.
Though some locations may experience fewer climate impacts than others, California’s Central Valley is expected to see several extreme climate events in the near future. Droughts, storms, and wildfires are all possibilities and may have significant effects on crops and farming. Beyond the agriculture industry, California residents have been and will continue to be impacted by these events. Here’s what you should know about climate change in the Central Valley and what you can do to help save your hometown.
The long reaching effects
Since the entire United States and, in fact, the entire world is affected by climate change, why bother talking about the Central Valley specifically? As it turns out, the Central Valley produces a third of the country’s vegetables and two thirds of its fruits and nuts. The rivers in the area support about three million people and two million acres of agriculture that provide a valuable resource to a large part of the nation. Therefore, extreme climate events in California’s Central Valley will not only damage California’s economy but will quickly spread to impact other states.
Though it may be too late to reverse the effects of climate change during our lifetime, a switch to green energy can still limit some of the worst consequences. Reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions will help mitigate the effects of climate change on our atmosphere, and a switch to solar power would reduce our reliance on harmful fossil fuels. Damage has certainly been done at the hands of climate change, but it’s not too late to protect the planet that supports our very existence.
Going back to our roots
Climate change in the Central Valley is an issue that reaches beyond the Central Valley. If we hope to protect one of the nation’s primary sources of agriculture, change at the industrial and individual level is necessary. Otherwise, the valuable resources provided by the Central Valley may be lost for good.
Central Valley has a long history as an agricultural hub, and its farming roots stretch back to Mexican immigrants that came to the area in the early nineteen hundreds. For more information on how Mexican culture shaped the Central Valley and how we can help preserve the gifts of that culture, visit Jane Rosenthal’s blog.