Climate Change Impacts in Texas

Integrated Analysis and Adaptation
1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-032-52416-0
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 544 Seiten, Format (B × H): 178 mm x 254 mm

Reihe: Environmental Assessment and Management

This book focuses on climate change impacts and adaptation in Texas, a vital economic and ecologically important region in the US. Texas spans twelve distinct ecoregions and a GDP greater than that of many countries, however, it is the only large state in the US that does not have an active climate action or adaptation plan. This book analyzes the ways in which every aspect of life in Texas could be affected by climate change and the severe risks posed to the future well-being of Texans. It discusses the effects of climate change on the natural environment, human-environmental systems, and a diversity of approaches used for climate adaptation and mitigation, whether intentional or not. Finally, this book provides a different perspective for both the climate enthusiastic and the climate agnostic.

Features

- Offers a contemporary perspective on the changing climate in Texas and why it matters – specially with respect to impacts, points of vulnerability, and adaptation.

- Includes contributions from the state climatologist and disciplinary experts who have a solid understanding of the ecological, social, economic, and policy issues for Texas.

- Provides a perspective on the political and economic motivations of climate mitigation in Texas, or lack thereof.

- Discusses the multi-faceted and interconnected nature of impacts and links projected impacts to adaptation and mitigation needs.

- Extends the discussion of climate change to relate to the broader science of planetary limitations.

This book serves as a foundational resource for graduate students, industry professionals, government officials, environmental practitioners, researchers, and academics dealing with climate change everywhere, not just in Texas, and gives readers a sense of urgency for changes that need to be made.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate, Professional, and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Wells, Mona

McManamay, Ryan A.

Fachgebiete

• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Umwelttechnik
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Klimawandel, Globale Erwärmung
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Ökologie
• Technische Wissenschaften Umwelttechnik | Umwelttechnologie Umwelttechnik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Part I: Introduction. I.1 Why Texas? I.2 The Changing Climate of Texas. I.3 Alarming Sea Level Rise Along Texas Coast: Causes, Impacts, and Mitigation Strategies. I.4 Extremities - Drought, Dust, and Wildfire. I.5 Beyond the Banks – Urbanization, Infrastructure, and the Fight Against Flooding.  Part II: Impacts of Climate Change on Natural Ecosystems.  II.1 Extending the Planetary Boundaries Framework to Texas: Are We Beyond the Safe Operating Space? II.2 Climate Change and the Living Planet - Impacts on the Biosphere and Consequences to Ecosystem Services. II.3 Climate Change Impacts on Freshwaters: Recent Trends and Future Predictions for Biodiversity, Ecosystem Function, and Human Wellbeing. II.4 Texas Gulf Coast Ecosystems and Climate Change: Coral Reefs, Barrier Islands, Bays, and Blue Carbon. II.5 Climate Change Impacts on the Terrestrial Ecosystems of Texas. Part III: Impacts of Climate Change on Human-Environmental Systems.  III.1 Impacts of a Warming and Drying Climate on Agriculture and Food Production. III.2 Extreme Temperatures, Air Quality, and Public Health. III.3 Water Supply and Wastewater Infrastructure System Challenges Under Climate Uncertainty. III.4 Impact of Climate Change on Transportation: Opportunities to Leverage Crowdsourced Data to Understand Impacts on Traffic. III.5 The Economic Impacts of Climate Change in Texas: Lessons for the US Economy.  Part IV: Adaptation and Mitigation – Considerations for Environmental Management.  IV.1 Future Water Use in Texas. IV.2 Strategies for Land Management, Conservation, and Nature-based Solution Support of Climate Action. IV.3 The Great Texas Energy Experiment: The Uncertain Road to Electricity Decarbonization in the Lone Star State. IV.4 Texan Energopolitics. IV.5 Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change and Resource Use in the Texas Transportation Sector. IV.6 Climate Adaptation from the Regional Planning Perspective: Notes on Institutional Reality, Anthropogenic Responses, Phronesis, and Incremental Pragmatism. IV.7 Texas Climate Policy Considerations.  Part V: The Future of Texas in a Changing Climate.  V.1 The Future of a Changing Climate in Texas.

Über Autor(innen)

Mona Wells is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist specialized in Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Risk Assessment, and Environmental Management. Her roles have included posts in different locales internationally as an academic and as an environmental practitioner, on projects spanning a broad portfolio including technical project work, research, commercialization, program development, policy advisement, science communication, public consultation, pedagogical development, and continuous improvement. She recently served as Director of Climate Science for one of the Meadows Foundation Research Institutes in Texas.

Ryan McManamay is an Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he teaches classes on energy and environment, water management, and ecology. Previously, he was a research scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, primarily researching renewable energy. His research explores past and future anthropogenic pressures, from land use change to infrastructure development, on ecosystems with the goal of balancing ecological and societal needs.