Become a Supporter
Become a Supporter
Ezra David Romero
Environment Reporter
Climate change is becoming the great equalizer of our time. It’s altering everything: our lives, cities and the wilderness that surrounds us. I’ve realized that climate change isn’t holding back and has left us all in a tension.
As CapRadio’s environment reporter, I will report on disadvantaged communities vulnerable to climate change, and how they are affected by state and federal decisions and policy that focus on the environment and our relationship to it. I will also report on growing tension over water in the West.
What questions do you have about how climate change is altering the lives of people in California and Nevada?
Let me know below.
Tweets
All New California Cars, Trucks Must Be Zero-Emission By 2035, Newsom Announces In Executive Order
September 23, 2020
California’s governor announced an executive order Wednesday that will phase out gasoline-powered cars by requiring that all new cars sold to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. It also put forward actions to transition away from fossil fuels.
California’s Coastal Range Fires Are Getting Significantly Worse Every Decade, Experts Say
September 22, 2020
It might seem like there’s been more fire recently in the coastal range. There has been. That’s because high-severity wildfires in the California Coastal Range have been increasing by about 10% per decade since 1984, according to UC Davis researchers
Wildfires Impacted California COVID-19 Testing, But Newsom Confident As Hospitalizations Decrease
September 21, 2020
California Gov. Gavin Newsom gave an update on the wildfires burning throughout the state Monday, but also touched on testing rates, employment issues, homelessness and combating climate change.
Six Months After Stay-At-Home Orders, Californians Still Figuring Out Life Under COVID-19
September 19, 2020
On March 17, Sacramento County first advised residents to stay in their homes unless absolutely necessary. Six months later, every county in California is still in the process of trying to reopen as the threat of COVID-19 lingers.
The Racist Removal Of Native Americans In California Is Often Missing From Wildfire Discussions, Experts Say
September 16, 2020
While climate change and a history of fire suppression are among the top reasons why experts say wildfires have grown so big so fast, experts say removing Indigenous people from the landscape is a huge reason behind today’s explosion of fires.
Trump Ignores California Officials’ Calls To Address Climate Change, Predicts ‘It’ll Get Cooler’
September 14, 2020
President Donald Trump maintained forest management is the key to preventing California’s deadly fires and predicted “it’ll start getting cooler” when presented with facts about climate change during his visit to Sacramento on Monday.
Fire Suppression — And Climate Change — Is To Blame For California’s Megafires. Experts Unpack The Term.
September 12, 2020
With more than three million acres burned so far this year in California, wildfires are at top of mind. And the term “wildfire suppression” is often cited as a main reason for blazes getting so big. But what does the term actually mean?
As Bear Fire Tears Through Butte County, Berry Creek Residents Fear Their Town Is Gone
September 9, 2020
Thousands evacuated the hills east of Oroville in the middle of the night as the Bear Fire exploded in the late evening Tuesday. In the process, at least three people died.
‘Mother Nature Didn’t Get The Memo’ — Smoke-Free Skies Likely To Return As Temperatures Soar
September 3, 2020
Sacramento is getting a reprieve from smoke from wildfires. But will it last? Experts say the winds that pushed it away were unexpected and Northern Californians shouldn’t be surprised if the skies grow dark again.
Wildfires In California Will ‘Continue To Get Worse,’ Climate Change Experts Explore Why
September 3, 2020
Millions of acres have burned so far in California this summer, and if the blazes keep up in future years, it could cost the state more than COVID-19. What will it take to stop megafires from happening?