Los Angeles
In California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, the Los Angeles region includes Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange Counties, plus parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. 18 million people live here – almost half the population of California. How will climate change affect this part of the state? You'll hear from five young people in the region. Their experiences will help you understand Los Angeles' climate future.
Questions
In what ways is climate change expected to affect the Los Angeles region? Which of these effects will have the greatest impact on people’s day-to-day lives, in your opinion?
Why will some people in this region experience climate change more intensely than others? Using the CalEnviroScreen, see how vulnerable your own neighborhood is.
How long have Native American communities lived in this region and how did their ancestors respond to natural shifts in California’s precipitation?
In terms of your own feelings about climate change, do you identify with one of the young people interviewed for this episode? Why? Or, if you don’t identify with any of them, why not?
Voices
In order of appearance, the young people I interviewed for this episode were: Niaz (Newport Beach), Faith and Maddie (sisters from Fountain Valley), Monique (Riverside), and Nefertiti (Los Angeles). I also spoke with my scientist-collaborator, Nancy Freitas.
Listening
Want to listen on another platform? You can find Future Imperfect on Apple Podcasts and on Stitcher.
Resources
If you want to dig deeper into some of the topics in this episode, here are some places to begin.
More about anticipated climate change impacts:
Check out the Los Angeles report - California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, Regional Reports
Recent Publications from the Air Quality Research Center at UC Davis
See images from the flood Niaz describes - “Partial Roof Collapse At Commercial Building, Schools Flooded In Wake Of OC Storm” from CBS Los Angeles
Responses to urban heat effects:
Cool Roofs and Cool Pavements Toolkit from the Global Cool Cities Alliance
“Shade” from 99% Invisible
About Indigenous peoples whose ancestral lands are in this region (partial list):
“History of Ancient Los Angeles Was Driven by Its Wetlands, 8,000-Year Survey Finds” from WesternDigs.org
"We are the Acjachemen People" - David Avitia, Indigenous Voices of San Juan Capistrano
The water connection between Los Angeles and the Owens Valley:
Los Angeles Aqueduct and Owens Valley from Water Education Foundation
“L.A. took their water and land a century ago. Now the Owens Valley is fighting back” from Los Angeles Times
Finally, you might have been wondering how Nefer knew so much about e-watse. She did a class project about it and made this PSA: