This story was produced in collaboration with NPR, with help
from producer Cindy Carpien. Sasha’s radio story aired on The
California Report on June 8, and will also air later this month
as part of NPR’s series on water and the West. Does climate
change spell doomsday for California agriculture? That’s what
Nobel-prize winning physicist Steven Chu told the Los Angeles
Times in an interview, soon after President Obama appointed him
Secretary of Energy. “I don’t think the American public has
gripped in its gut what could happen,” he told the Times in
February. “We’re looking at a scenario where there’s no more
agriculture in California.” For another perspective, I called UC
Davis ag economist Richard Howitt, who focuses on water and
California agriculture, to ask him what he thought. “That’s a
highly inaccurate statement,” Howitt said. “Steven got carried
away. Brilliant man, but he doesn’t know anything about
California water.” Howitt’s models show climate change will
likely lead to a 25% reduction in the stat