Report What If California’s Drought Continues? By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle ... Aug 19, 2015 California is in the fourth year of a severe, hot drought—the kind that is increasingly likely as the climate warms. Although no sector has been untouched, impacts so far have varied greatly, reflecting different levels of drought preparedness. Urban areas are in the best shape, thanks to sustained investments in diversified water portfolios and conservation. Farmers are more vulnerable, but they are also adapting. The greatest vulnerabilities are in some low-income rural communities where wells are running dry and in California’s wetlands, rivers, and forests, where the state’s iconic biodiversity is under extreme threat. Two to three more years of drought will increase challenges in all areas and require continued—and likely increasingly difficult—adaptations. Emergency programs will need to be significantly expanded to get drinking water to rural residents and to prevent major losses of waterbirds and extinctions of numerous native fish species, including most salmon runs. California also needs to start a longer-term effort to build drought resilience in the most vulnerable areas.
blog post Californians and Climate Change By Mark Baldassare Aug 10, 2015 California likely voters’ strong support of AB 32—the 2006 law requiring reductions in greenhouse gas emissions—has barely budged, through good times and bad. Why?
blog post Video: PPIC’s Annual Survey on the Environment By Linda Strean Aug 10, 2015 As California pursues its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—and considers still more ambitious ones—PPIC presented its annual survey on environmental issues.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment By Mark Baldassare, Lunna Lopes, Dean Bonner, David Kordus Jul 29, 2015 Some findings of the current survey: Californians see global warming as a serious threat—and most do not think action to reduce global warming will lead to fewer jobs. There is strong support for the greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements in AB 32 and SB 32. Californians favor the energy goals in SB 350; they also favor state support for solar power and electric vehicles. Many say water is the state’s top environmental issue—but most do not know their local water district reduction targets. Job Approval Ratings: President Obama [PDF] Governor Brown [PDF] California State Legislature [PDF] U.S. Congress [PDF] Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings: President Obama [XLS] Governor Brown [XLS] California State Legislature [XLS] U.S. Congress [XLS] This survey was supported with funding from The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, the Heising-Simons Foundation, and the Pisces Foundation.
