Sen. Barbara Boxer, who leads the Environment and Public Works Committee, is on a trip to Amsterdam focusing on climate change. She is visiting the Dutch capital to see the city's adaptation techniques for coping with sea level rise, as well as to learn about the progress the city has made in moving toward clean energy to address climate change.
Boxer, a Democrat from Rancho Mirage, was unavailable for a phone interview while traveling. But she responded by email to questions from The Desert Sun about drought, climate change, and the measures she advocates to better manage strained water supplies in California and the West.
Here are the questions and the senator's responses, which were provided to The Desert Sun by the Environment and Public Works Committee:
The Desert Sun: California has seen its hottest temperatures on record during the first six months of 2014. The hotter temperatures are exacerbating the drought, and the drought is also contributing to the hotter temperatures. What does the Senator think is important for people to understand about the influence of climate change during this time of drought?
Boxer: As far back as 1995, climate scientists have predicted that increasing global temperatures would lead to more severe droughts in some regions of the world. We know that climate change is linked to the type of intense, record-breaking droughts that we are experiencing in California. The bottom line is that the impacts of climate change are real and are happening all around us, but it is not too late to do something about it.
We can change course by reducing carbon pollution which causes climate change, and I support President Obama's efforts to do just that. A key part of the President's Climate Action Plan is using the Clean Air Act authorities to reduce carbon pollution from power plants by 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Power plants are our biggest source of carbon pollution. This is a critical step forward in the effort to address climate change. And as Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I am continuing the fight to protect our landmark environmental laws, including preserving the Clean Air Act. It is most unfortunate that such laws are under constant attack by polluters and their supporters in Congress.
Many reservoirs in California have receded significantly, and various studies have shown that groundwater has been rapidly depleted in places from California's Central Valley to the Colorado River basin. Lake Mead has also been dropped to record lows. What additional steps should the federal government take to help the West adapt to increasing water scarcity?
As of Aug. 5, over 99 percent of California is in severe drought conditions, 82 percent in extreme drought conditions, and 58 percent of the state is in exceptional drought conditions. The drought conditions are clearly affecting our state's water supply, and the intensity and frequency of droughts will continue to worsen unless we take steps to address climate change by reducing carbon pollution.
In addition to the new standards for power plants, the Obama Administration has already taken some important steps, such as improving automobile and truck fuel economy and increasing energy efficiency rules. The U.S. is on track to meet its international pledge to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 17 percent by 2020.
In Congress, I am working with Democrats on the Senate Climate Action Task Force to convince our Republican colleagues that we must protect our landmark environmental laws and take meaningful steps to reduce carbon pollution. Unfortunately, it is an uphill battle. Just last week, Republicans in the Senate refused to agree to a resolution led by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., to simply acknowledge that climate change is occurring and poses a risk to the nation. By refusing to accept an overwhelming scientific consensus on the issue (97 percent agreement), my Republican colleagues are hindering us in our efforts to address climate change.
The recently-passed Water Resources Reform and Development Act will help California respond to the worsening drought. The law establishes a pilot program, known as the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), to provide critical financing for water infrastructure projects identified by local communities, such as desalination, water recycling, and repair of aging water supply infrastructure.
Additionally, the federal government can continue to work with all stakeholders to identify areas for increased conservation and coordination in the management of our water resources.
I recently introduced the "W21: Water for the 21st Century," a bill that would help communities nationwide better prepare for the future by providing new incentives and investments to help residents, businesses and local water agencies to conserve, recycle and manage limited water supplies. The legislation would expand rebates and grants for water conservation and efficiency; support local investments in water recycling and improved groundwater management and storage; invest in research into water-saving technologies and desalination; and establish an open water data system. The measure would also help local communities take steps to become better prepared for drought.
We'd also like to ask for the Senator's reaction to The Desert Sun's recent three-part series about how climate change is altering the deserts of the Southwest, including effects on Joshua trees, desert animals and water supplies. Are there steps the government can take to help better safeguard desert ecosystems and ensure water for the future?
The Desert Sun's reporting on our water crisis is playing a very important role as we deal with the drought and awareness in our community.
It's easy for people to dismiss the desert as barren, inhospitable, and without need for ecosystem protections. But advocates and inhabitants of this precious environment know better. Our desert habitats are oftentimes in need of even greater protections because of the delicate balance they exist within. And for the quiet observer, the desert is alive and abounds with unique plant and animal species. It's why federal initiatives like the Desert Renewable Energy and Conservation Plan (DRECP) are so critical at this time. Our deserts have become a hub for innovations in renewable energy, and have brought about an exciting shift in energy production and the potential for a new domestic clean energy economy. At the same time though, these desert ecosystems must be protected, and a careful balance constructed so as to preserve the wonders of the desert for future generations. The DRECP is a model for the smart planning that must take place, which brings together energy developers, conservation groups, federal/state/local governments, and the American public together to coordinate that shared future. It's these large scale — if not daunting — initiatives that the federal government has, and must continue, to focus on to best protect our desert environment and balance our many needs.