NASA is predicting megadroughts in US in the coming decades. By megadroughts they mean droughts lasting decades or more. As we struggle with the consequences of the California drought, how that drought is managed will have a profound impact on our species survival.
How the California drought is managed will speak volumes about our ability to foresee and plan for the long term effects of climate change.
California has been an environmental leader in many ways. This drought gives them the opportunity to be a global leader in paving the way for a realistic approach to managing our future while mitigating the effects of climate change.
70% of Earth's surface is covered with water but only 1% of that water is drinkable and we use 50% of that potable (drinkable) water in US (47% in California) to raise livestock for human consumption. Those are staggering statistics. Livestock agriculture is also one of the major emitters of greenhouse gases (pdf), resource degradation and resource depletion. It represents the low hanging fruit of climate change mitigation and water and land protection. If we are to have a safe future we must leave intense animal agriculture behind us just as we must leave fossil fuel burning behind us.
California is not the only state running dry due to livestock production; Kansas is also running out of water because of its focus on livestock production.
To prepare for our future we must reconsider the crop mix, especially for historically dry regions such as California. There are other though smaller impact changes which need to be considered such as desalinization which expensive needs further study to determine marine impacts. Now is not the time to rush into a situation without researching the future consequences, we've already done too much of that. Also treated waste water is an option to consider.
Together, we must do all these things if our species is to survive. And we must do them now.