OCCRI’s Fifth Oregon Climate Assessment Highlights the Latest Around Climate Change in our State
Last week, the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute published its Fifth Oregon Climate Assessment, an assessment of the state of climate change science – including biological, physical, and social science – as it relates to Oregon and the effects of climate change.
It’s a hefty assessment, full of important data and analysis around climate change. Our team here at ODOE will dive deeper into the report, but a few things quickly caught our eye from the Executive Summary (quotes shown in bold italics):
“Oregon’s annual average temperature increased by about 2.2°F per century since 1895. If greenhouse gas emissions continue at current levels, temperature in Oregon is projected to increase on average by 5°F by the 2050s and 8.2°F by the 2080s, with the greatest seasonal increases in summer.”
We know Oregon is still far from achieving our greenhouse gas reduction goals – and it has certainly been on ODOE’s mind lately. We discussed climate change in Oregon in our 2020 Biennial Energy Report, which was published November 1. The Oregon Global Warming Commission also outlines the latest for climate change in the state in its Biennial Report to the Legislature. ODOE, along with multiple other agency partners, is also implementing directives in Governor Brown’s Climate Change Executive Order 20-04.
“Wildfire dynamics are affected by climate change, past and contemporary land management and human activity, and expansion of non-native invasive grasses. From 1984 through 2018, annual area burned in Oregon increased considerably. Over the next 50 to 100 years, area burned and fire size are projected to increase substantially, initially east of the crest of the Cascade Range and then in the western Cascade Range. Over the long term, depending on how vegetation and fire weather shift with climatic changes and fuel and fire management, fire severity also may increase.”
Wildfire mitigation planning will play an important role in Oregon, particularly following the devastating fires in September 2020. We discussed what mitigation planning means for Oregon and actions utilities are already taking in our 2020 Biennial Energy Report.
“Tribes may experience distinct impacts of climate change that relate to their cultures, identities, histories, relations with other governments, and land-holding status. Tribes throughout Oregon are using Traditional Knowledges to prepare for and increase their resilience to climate change. Priority topics include access to first foods, community health, changes in the distributions or status of native species, and wetland alterations. Tribal climate adaptation strategies also help to reassert treaty rights, advocate for equitable investment in civil infrastructure, and reestablish Tribal sovereignty.”
Oregon Tribes play an important part of Oregon’s energy history and our future. We’re committed to strengthening our relationship with these sovereign nations to better understand their needs around energy and the effects of climate change. We recently submitted our annual Government-to-Government Report, which outlines our activities with Tribes over the last year.
“Climate change is likely to stress Oregon’s infrastructure. Projected increases in sea level and precipitation intensities are expected to strain levees, tide gates, and sewer and stormwater infrastructure. Droughts may diminish hydropower production and the effectiveness of water-supply infrastructure. Wildfires may threaten communities directly and indirectly via, for example, landslides and degraded water quality. Urban heat island effects are expected to increase summer electricity demand.”
In 2020, ODOE kicked off work to develop a climate vulnerability assessment for the energy sector in Oregon. The analysis will include an evaluation of the risks and vulnerabilities to infrastructure and planning processes – inclusive of electric, natural gas, and liquid fuels production and delivery systems. ODOE Senior Climate Policy Analyst Maya Buchanan also developed a primer on the social cost of carbon as background information for Oregon Global Warming Commission members.
Our work will continue into 2021 – and beyond. We’re proud to partner with OCCRI, and grateful for the organization’s thoughtful work in its Fifth Oregon Climate Assessment. Learn more about climate change in Oregon on ODOE’s website.