Is the California drought impacting only Californians? Unfortunately not. The lack of water in California is just a drop in this red ocean. Colorado has been heavily affected by climate change and the consequences of California’s drought.
When most businesses or individuals talk about the drought in California, the focus is primarily on direct water conservation. Often what we may fail to appreciate is the complex relationship between water and the many other aspects of what we associate with sustainability, including energy, waste, and environmental and social well-being. When we consider how to respond to the severe water cutbacks recently mandated in California, we need to recognize that a more holistic approach to sustainability, beyond simple “water conservation,” will have a much more profound impact on the drought, immediately and into the future.
In general, Californians have fallen far short of meeting Gov. Jerry Brown’s January call for a 20% cut in water use. But the news isn’t all bad. Today July 25th, Colorado River Day — celebrating the day the river was officially renamed from the “Grand” to the “Colorado” — we highlight the role businesses are playing in water conservation and in protecting the Colorado River.
