10 NEWS
March 2017
California turns the heat up against climate change Justin Som
ISABEL MITCHELL
While being interviewed on CNBC’s “Squawkbox,” Pruitt said, “There’s tremendous disagreement about the degree of imViolent storms and destructive floods. A pact [of carbon dioxide.] So no, I would not five-year-long drought. These fears are no agree that it’s a primary contributor to the longer restricted to the nightmares of para- global warming that we see.” noid scientists. “I’m a bit worried about global warming They are the real-time effects of global since the government no longer supports warming in Califorit,” said Sammy nia. Zhang, a junior. “We’ve got the scientists, we’ve “If the federal govSince taking office, President got the lawyers, and we’re ready ernment does not Trump and the take action, we’re to fight. We’re ready to defend.” going to be in seriTrump administration have professed ous trouble when mixed views on clithe more powerful Jerry Brown mate change. Many effects hit us. We Governor of California Americans are worneed to educate ried that Trump’s more people about Cabinet will not support President Barack it so that science will get more funding to Obama’s efforts to stop the United States stop it.” from worsening the environment. In response to the White House’s lack of “The concept of global warming was support against climate change, Gov. Jerry created by and for the Chinese in order to Brown has advocated for California to lead make U.S. manufacturing non-competi- the charge in energy efficiency and pollutive,” tweeted Donald Trump in November tion reduction. 2012. “We’ve got the scientists, we’ve got the Thus far, the Trump administration has lawyers, and we’re ready to fight. We’re only rolled back Obama’s efforts to educate ready to defend,” said Brown at the Amerithe public about climate change. Only a can Geophysical Union Conference in San week into his presidency, President Trump Francisco in December 2016. forced the Environment Protection Agency The first measure Brown has called for is (EPA) to remove its information page on to reduce carbon emissions in traditionally global warming and its effects. non-environmental friendly industries. Additionally, the new administrator of In legislation from 2006, the California the EPA that was appointed for Trump’s Global Warming Solutions Act had promterm, Scott Pruitt, contradicted previous ised that California would dramatically findings made by the agency during prior lower its greenhouse gas emissions to 40 years by denying that carbon dioxide is one percent lower than the levels of 1990. This of the main factors behind climate change. goal is intended to be met by 2030.
“We will hopefully have fewer problems with the changing climate in future years,” said Daniel Vignanker, a junior. “However, right now, I think California is doing a pretty good job because many people have reduced the amount of water they are using and are converting to electricity-powered cars.” Likewise, California utilities, energy sources, and transportation systems are hoping to also reduce energy consumption by modernizing infrastructure. Due to a lack of preparation for the effects of global warming, these fields need to reestablish themselves in order to avoid heavy damages. Many of California’s power plants are still diesel-reliant and have not been given sufficient protections against the possible effects of the changing environment. Should these protective measures not be taken, scientists believe that many government utilities will bear fates similar to what happened at Oroville Dam. “That is a national concern for us,” said Lori Spragens, in an interview with The New York Times in response to the flooding of Oroville Dam. Spragens is the executive director of the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. According to Spragens, “most dams are almost 50-years-old” and will “need to be upgraded to current standards” in order to keep up with global warming. “California is doing a pretty good job with handling the current effects of global warming, but we can still do more,” said Zhang. “If California really does lower its energy consumption, it would set a good example for what other states should do.”