"ALBUQUERQUE -- New Mexico, Arizona and more than two dozen other states could face increased threats to water supplies if they don't do more to plan for rising temperatures and changes in rain and snowfall patterns, according to an analysis released Thursday by the Natural Resources Defense Council."
"The nonprofit environmental group used the state-by-state analysis to highlight what it sees as a link between greenhouse gas emissions — the pollutants blamed for global warming — and weather changes that could ultimately affect water resources.
'If government officials have a greater appreciation of the impacts they're facing now and in the pipeline for the future, that will cause them to think again about more support for curbing the pollution and thus slowing the train that's rushing at them,' David Doniger, the NRDC's climate and clean air policy director, told reporters during a conference call.
The analysis found that 29 states — nearly 60 percent of the nation — have either done nothing or very little to prepare for water-related effects from climate change."
Susan Montoya Bryan reports for the Associated Press April 5, 2012.
SEE ALSO:
"Draft National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change (2012)" (EPA)
"Texas Ranks at Bottom of Water-Readiness Report" (Dallas Morning News)
"N.M. Criticized for Water Readiness" (Las Cruces Sun-News)
"Pennsylvania Among the States Best Prepared for Water Threats to Economy and Health" (Essential Public Radio)
"California Steady on Climate-change Preparedness" (French Tribune)
"Report: Ohio Unprepared for Climate Change" (Columbus Dispatch)
"Report Finds Texas Lags in Preparing for Climate Change" (Houston Chronicle)
"Texas EPA Czar Calls for Emergency Climate Change Plan" (Dallas Blog)