Climate change in Oklahoma
In the coming decades, summers are likely to be increasingly hot and dry, which will reduce the productivity of farms and ranches, change parts of the landscape, and possibly harm human health".
[1] It has also been noted that Oklahoma's grasslands "are a vital component in nature's fight against climate change" due to their capacity to capture and store carbon.
[7][8] Former Oklahoma attorney general Scott Pruitt, who has been closely allied with the fossil fuel industry, served as Environmental Protection Agency Administrator from 2017-2018.
[10] Despite current debates on appropriate terminology, when viewed from a historical rather than a political perspective, it is clear that the climate of Oklahoma has changed considerably since the dust storms of the 1930s, which occurred after years of drought and poor farming practices.
Kloesel anticipates that "precipitation changes will amplify these warming extremes, as Oklahoma appears poised for more frequent, lengthier periods of drought interspersed with floods.
[1] The arid climate that typifies the American West is expected to continue expanding to the east, reducing the crops that can be grown by Oklahoma farmer.
For instance, due to the high prices of hay and dried-up water sources, many ranchers in Oklahoma were compelled to liquidate their herds during the severe drought period in 2011, further contributing to the losses that were recorded in both livestock and crop production.
As a result, farmers are seeing their costs rise as they drill deeper wells to reach dwindling water reserves, and switch to less water-demanding crops such as milo at the expense of profitability.
[19] All these challenges are compounded by weak Oklahoma legislative regulations on water, which allow industries such as commercial hog operations to withdraw immense volumes of groundwater and thereby accelerate aquifer depletions.
[19] Groundwater levels are decreasing, and Oklahoma's agricultural productivity and economic stability are at a risk, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable water management in the face of a warming, drier climate.
[20] In June 2022, Oklahoma took the first step towards making it easier for businesses to apply for carbon sequestration permits on a state level, instead of with the US federal government.
[26] To maximize Oklahoma's potential as a leader in carbon removal, collaboration between the state's elected representatives, the federal government, and industry experts is crucial.
Weiner suggests that government initiatives should focus on providing research, development, and demonstration funding to accelerate the growth of the carbon removal sector.
Congressional representatives like Congressman Frank Lucas and Congresswoman Stephanie Bice, who serve on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, play a vital role in advocating for Oklahoma's position as a leader in carbon dioxide removal.
Each acre of protected grasslands in Oklahoma "mitigates nearly four metric tons of carbon dioxide per year — the equivalent of taking 4 million cars off the road.
