Climate Change Impacts Region: Droughts, Wildfires, and Health Risks Grow

The urgency of addressing climate change cannot be overstated. Understanding climate change and its multifaceted impacts is crucial for implementing effective mitigation strategies and safeguarding our planet's future. From extreme weather events to rising sea levels, the consequences of a warming world are becoming increasingly evident.

Across the globe, we witness a surge in heat waves, with temperature records being shattered on an annual basis. Droughts, floods, and other severe weather events dominate headlines, underscoring the growing intensity and frequency of climate-related disasters. These occurrences have far-reaching implications for human societies and natural ecosystems alike.

The Impact on Our Region

Our region is not immune to these effects. We are experiencing longer, drier summers, putting immense stress on forestlands and agriculture. Prolonged wildfire seasons pose significant risks, exacerbated by reduced federal workforces dedicated to fire suppression. The extended dry periods leave these lands more vulnerable to insects, diseases, and invasive species.

In 2024, Oregon endured a record-breaking fire season, with 1956 fires scorching a staggering 1,937,512 acres—the most burned acreage in three decades. The Durkee Fire in Baker County at one point became the largest wildfire in the nation, highlighting the unprecedented scale of the crisis.

Regional coordinated monitoring efforts reveal that spring runoff from mountain snowpack is occurring earlier, while increasing summer water temperatures negatively affect aquatic habitats and life. Long-term research at the U.S. Forest Service Starkey Experimental Forest has shown a continued increase in temperatures and earlier spring snowmelt, leading to an earlier start to the growing season.

Ecological Consequences

While this earlier green-up may benefit wildlife and domestic livestock, it also results in earlier forage curing in the summer. The dry forage contains less nutrition, leaving animals less prepared for winter. Moreover, the earlier curing of grasses and shrubs provides highly flammable fuel in mid-summer, coinciding with the peak of fire season.

Dust and wildfire smoke pose growing public health challenges, restrict outdoor activities, and strain food sources. Steadily increasing summer heat, with more days exceeding 90 degrees than historically observed, impacts the productivity of outdoor workers in sectors such as agriculture and construction. Many families lack access to air conditioning, making them more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.

The Need for Climate Action

These events and observations are not isolated incidents; they reflect a broader pattern of change driven by climate change. The impacts described here will continue unless we take decisive action to mitigate these effects. Climate information is a vital tool to help us adapt to the adverse consequences of a warming region and planet. By denying the wealth of scientific evidence on climate change and its impact, we undermine our ability to prepare for the future.

Universities and research institutions are working diligently to archive current scientific knowledge, ensuring that it is not lost amidst efforts to suppress or distort information. The Eastern Oregon Climate Change Coalition website (EOC3.org) and the Oregon Climate Assessment, developed by the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute at Oregon State University, are excellent sources of recent information on climate change.

Withholding science and research serves the public poorly. Ignoring and disregarding what we have already learned limits our capacity to adapt to a rapidly changing world. Through collective efforts and a commitment to scientific understanding, we can stay informed and be prepared to meet the challenges of an uncertain future. By embracing climate change understanding and actively mitigating climate effects, we can work towards a more sustainable and resilient future for all.