Study: Feds Downplaying Climate Change Threat To Endangered Species
Suzanne Potter, Public News Service – CA
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Federal agencies are downplaying the effects of
climate change on endangered species, according to a report out today. The study,
published in the journal Nature Climate Change, looked at 459 animals
and found that although climate change affects all but one of the
species, it was only cited in 64% of planning documents – and the
agencies required action in just 18% of cases.
Study author Aimee Delach, senior policy analyst for climate adaptation
with Defenders of Wildlife, said 82 California species were included in
the study.
“Of those, 61 at least discussed climate change threats – 21 did not,”
Delach said. “Fourteen had actions and seven had additional study.”
Some of the Golden State species studied include the California condor
and the California tiger salamander. The Trump administration has worked
to lift environmental regulations it claims are unnecessarily impeding
commercial ventures such as logging, ranching, residential development
and oil and gas drilling.
Delach said new federal regulations issued in 2018 will make it easier
for agencies to ignore climate change in endangered-species listing and
recovery plans.
“Our data show that even prior to those new regulations, the agencies
weren’t doing enough,”she said. “And so those new regulations make
matters very, very concerning.”
The study includes a web tool
that makes the indings searchable by species and state. It shows that
in California, climate change affects species by isolating certain
populations, changing the availability of water, and introducing new
disturbances into the environment.Disclosure:
Defenders of Wildlife contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate
Change/Air Quality, Endangered Species & Wildlife, Energy Policy,
Public Lands/Wilderness. If you would like to help support news in the
public interest, click here.
