Beyond Words

• Date: 01 July 2014

7-2014 NEWS & ANALYSIS 44 ELR 10557

BEYOND WORDS

Each month, ELR publishes a graphic that depicts an environmental law or policy theme or topic. Please send suggested

submissions to schang@eli.org.

Source: P.M. Groma n et al., E cosystems, Biodiversity, and Ecosystem Serv ices, Fig. 8-1, in C  C I  

U S: T T N C  A, 195-219 (DOI: 10.7930/J0TD9V7H) (J.M. Melil lo et al., eds., U.S.

Global Change Resea rch Program), repri nted with permission from S.B. Roy et al., Projecting Water Withdrawal and Supply for

Future Decades in the U.S. Under Climat e Change Scenarios, 46 E. S.  T., 2545−56 (2012) (Copyright © 2012 American

Chemical Society).

No Climate Change Effects

Climate change is projected to reduce the ability of ecosystems to supply water in some parts of the country.

This is true in areas where precipitation is projected to decline, and even in some areas where precipitation is

expected to increase. Compared to 10% of counties today, by 2050, 32% of counties will be at high or extreme

risk of water shortages. Projections assume continued increases in greenhouse gas emissions through 2050 and

a slow decline thereafter. Numbers in parentheses indicate number of counties in each category.

Climate Change Effects

Water Supplies Projected to Decline

Copyright © 2014 Environmental Law Institute®, Washington, DC. Reprinted with permission from ELR®, http://www.eli.org, 1-800-433-5120.