Climate Change Is Killing Karl The Fog And California

As I am writing this, San Francisco is hovering around 90 degrees and for the first time since moving to the City, I wish I had an air conditioner. The East Bay, where I’m originally from, is even hotter. Oakland may break 100 degrees before the day ends, and when I look up at the sky, San Francisco’s characteristically thick clouds are noticeably absent. 

I feel like I’m in Los Angeles, and I don’t like it. 

Part of San Francisco’s allure is in its image. I mean that in a literal sense. The City doesn’t really look like anywhere else. Its hilly topography, perpetually shrouded in dense fog, gives San Francisco a naturally romantic aesthetic. It feels like a place that wants to be explored, and in exploring it, you explore a bit yourself as well. That’s why people relocated here. That physical feature took on symbolic meaning. The marginalized came from all four corners of the country to see if they could find their tribe by accentuating their eccentricities in a city that’s naturally obscured by the very sea that surrounds it. 

According to UC Berkeley professor Todd Dawson, San Francisco has experienced a sharp 33% decline in fog since the beginning of the 20th century

But climate change is likely changing that. 

According to UC Berkeley professor Todd Dawson, San Francisco has experienced a sharp 33% decline in fog since the beginning of the 20th century, and as the planet heats up, the trend appears likely to continue. 

If San Francisco completely loses its fog, that will be a major blow to the City. The effect would be similar to if San Francisco just suddenly flattened out. A San Francisco without fog is like a San Francisco without hills. It just isn’t San Francisco. 

And what will the fog be replaced by? Well, unfortunately, the most likely candidate would be wildfire smoke and ash.

These are defining features. 

And what will the fog be replaced by? Well, unfortunately, the most likely candidate would be wildfire smoke and ash.

While the amount of fog seems to be slowly decreasing, the amount and size of wildfires are on the upswing. According to The Atlantic, California’s wildfires are now 500% larger due to climate change. 

So how can we change it? Well, this isn’t a local issue. There’s no way for a San Francisco politician to solve a global problem to mitigate undesirable local conditions. What has to happen, to save San Francisco, and the planet, is to decrease the amount of carbon emissions, and try to become carbon neutral. This can be achieved if politicians have the courage to stand up to major industries and put a carbon cap on capitalism. Because major oil companies like Exxon and Shell knew about the disastrous effects of climate change since the ‘80s. 

We’re all connected. San Francisco, despite feeling like its own planet, is very much a part of the world. Our local fog is provided by a healthy planet. If you wanna save the fog, you’re gonna have to save the planet. Because as much as we love Karl, our actions are collectively killing him. 

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