Voice of OC opinion warns of county climate risks

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — Orange County is already seeing climate-related risks to beaches, infrastructure, inland neighborhoods and wildfire-prone hills, journalist and Newport Beach resident John Szabo argued in a Voice of OC community opinion piece published Monday.

The piece frames climate change as a present local government issue for coastal protection, heat planning, public infrastructure and taxpayer costs in Orange County.

According to Voice of OC, Szabo wrote that climate change is no longer only a distant concern for 2100, pointing to sea-level rise, beach erosion, hotter conditions, wildfire danger and stress on public infrastructure in Orange County.

The piece cited Newport Beach as one local example. Voice of OC reported that the city approved a project in 2017 to raise portions of the publicly maintained seawall around Balboa Island and completed a sea-level-rise vulnerability assessment looking at public lands, infrastructure and development.

San Clemente was cited as another coastal case. According to Voice of OC, the city is pursuing a long-term effort to place sand back on beaches that have been narrowing for decades, while narrower beaches leave homes, bluffs, roads and railroad tracks more exposed to wave energy.

The article also pointed to California’s climate assessment, which projects that 31% to 67% of Southern California beaches could be lost by the end of this century without significant intervention.

Inland communities face different climate pressures, according to Voice of OC. The piece said hotter conditions raise risks for older residents and outdoor workers, while higher electricity demand can strain households and public systems.

Szabo also wrote that Orange County’s hills regularly face dry vegetation, heat, low humidity and Santa Ana winds that contribute to wildfire danger, according to Voice of OC.

Voice of OC reported that Szabo urged Orange County residents and officials to debate climate responses without denying that local conditions are changing.