For the past few years, weather patterns have shifted, causing severe weather-related events such as last year’s freeze in Texas.
Director of Environmental Studies at UTRGV, Paul Jorgensen, explained that climate change refers to the multitude of impacts that global warming presents.
“All the effects that will come from that [global warming], melting of arctic and Antarctic ice, increased frequency of droughts, but also severe weather, and wildfires that result from that.”
According to Jorgensen, the current parts per million of CO2 in our atmosphere is 412.5.
“If we continue on the levels that I mentioned about CO2 in parts per million, by the year 2100 we will be about on average 3 degrees celsius warmer than where we were pre-industrialization. That will have catastrophic, cascading effects.” said Jorgensen
Jorgensen says that we are likely to see more severe weather and more divergent weather patterns back to back.
Additionally we can expect hotter temperatures on average, more severe storms, more drought, and more severe cold snaps during winter in South Texas.
In reference to the freeze in February of 2021, Jorgensen attributes fault to the politicians and government officials of Texas who failed to be prepared.
“So one reason that we in South Texas should be worried about climate change is that our politicians and our government haven’t maintained an energy grid to withstand the type of variability in weather that is gonna come with climate change.”
Emergency Management Coordinator for Hidalgo County,Ricardo Saldana, responds to emergency disasters and assists any affected communities with their needs in improving their emergency management plans and developing hazard mitigation plans.
Saldana recommends preparing yourself when asked how to prepare for a natural disaster emergency like a freeze or a storm.
“The key to all of this is preparedness, have at least anywhere from 7 days worth of food water, any medications, take care of your elders… make sure you have plenty of bedding, plenty of blankets to keep you all warm just in case, because you never know when the power is going to come back on.”
Saldana also suggests:
- Make sure you have money on hand because the ATMs will not work.
- Make sure you fill up your vehicles with fuel prior to the storm.
- Take care of your pets, have plenty of food for your pets.
English Professor and Environmental Studies Lecturer and Activist Stefanie Herweck considers the Valley a frontline community for climate change and there are many encouraging things to lay the groundwork to improve environmental conditions. However, Herweck prefers the term “climate disruption” or “climate emergency.”
“We need to preserve and protect those lands and make it easier for people to farm. We need to support local food systems by going to farmers markets. Maybe even growing your own foods. We need to reach out to city halls and local municipalities.”
Herweck continues with the solution to combating climate change.
“This is one of those problems where we absolutely know the answer and we have all the tools that we need to implement the solution and it’s just a matter of political will that is keeping us from doing that “
Environment protection is universally critical to maintaining a healthy world. Herweck encourages people to collectively keep pushing for environmental justice .
This is Felix Balderas with Vaquero Radio.
