Report: Global Warming Risks for Texas

Recommendations for citizens and state leaders

Posted: 24-May-2006; Updated: 27-Aug-2007

If sea levels rise three feet, South Padre Island would be lost and parts of Galveston Island would be uninhabitable.

"Global warming isn't coming to Texas, it's already here," said Jim Marston, director of the Texas office of Environmental Defense. "And because of our location and climate, Texans can expect many dramatic changes as global warming continues."

A new Environmental Defense report, Fair Warning: Global Warming and the Lone Star State [PDF], details three specific categories of global warming impacts and how they are expected to alter life in Texas:

Temperatures will be warmer and precipitation patterns will change, affecting human health, air quality, natural resources, wildlife, the economy and other quality-of-life issues. Heat waves are likely to be longer, hotter and more frequent, increasing heat-related deaths, wildfire risk and air conditioning bills.
The sea level will rise, threatening low-lying communities along the Texas coast, many species that rely on coastal and wetland ecosystems, and the multibillion-dollar coastal economy.
Warmer ocean water will increase the severity of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and an increase in sea level will virtually eliminate the protection offered by Texas' barrier islands and coastal wetlands.

Download Fair Warning: Global Warming and the Lone Star State [PDF]

Three maps featured in Fair Warning illustrate the impact of sea-level rise on the Texas coast. High-resolution jpegs of the maps are available below.

One-foot sea level rise - Download map [891 kB]
Three-foot sea level rise - Download map [976 kB]
Ten-foot sea level rise - Download map [1.088 MB]

Please use source information for the maps provided in the report.

Rising Seas Threaten Texas Coast

Perhaps the most dramatic impact on Texas will be the increase in sea level. Most scientists predict a sea level rise of between one to three feet over the next 100 years. Some predict an increase of as much as 10 feet. Maps in the report illustrate how much of Texas would be underwater with one-, three- and 10-foot increases. With a three-foot increase, South Padre Island would be lost. Much of Galveston Island would be uninhabitable.

Coupled with sea level rise, stronger hurricanes fueled by a warmer Gulf of Mexico will cause billions of dollars of property damage and change the lives of the 1.6 million residents of Texas' coastal counties.

Global Warming Solutions for Texas

Fair Warning also includes specific steps state legislators could take to reduce Texas contribution to the global warming problem and steps they should take to prepare for the changes that are already underway. Consumers are provided six easy steps they can take to lessen their greenhouse gas emissions at home or on their way to work without sacrificing convenience, cost or comfort.

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