Climate Change Fueling California Wildfires

jaimitocartero's photostream (creative commons)

California's Station fire, the largest wildfire in Los Angeles County's history, continues to burn, and while thankfully a large portion of the vicious fire has been contained, scientists warn that climate change is fueling stronger and more frequent wildfires in the western U.S.

While fires have long been a part of the western landscape, a variety of factors attributed to climate change, including drier and hotter conditions, earlier spring snow melts, the proliferation of pine bark beetles, and a seemingly perpetual drought,  intensifying and lengthening the wildfire season.  

If steps are not taken to curb greenhouse gas emissions and address the impact of climate change, we face an escalating 'megafire' trend that threatens more and more lives, homes, and wildlife habitats, not to mention a rising contribution to carbon emissions from the fires themselves.  Joseph Romm of Grist ties together many of the studies linking the increased fires to climate change, and this video from Newshour with Jim Lehrer explores the growing problem well.

Use the action links below to learn what you can do to help curb climate change and also help those threatened by the California wildfires.