Large-scale wildfires have become increasingly common in California, displacing thousands, destroying homes, blanketing much of the state in unhealthy smoke, and disrupting the lives of millions. Wildfires have also become a high-profile issue in politics, the subject of debates between Governor Newsom and President Trump. This panel will provide a deep dive into the science behind increased wildfires in California, the role of climate change in those fires, and what legal and policy changes might be needed to reduce the harms of wildfire and help the state adapt to a hotter, drier and more combustible world.
Participants:
Scott Stephens, Professor, UC Berkeley, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management
Patrick Gonzalez, Associate Adjunct Professor, UC Berkeley, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management and Principal Climate Change Scientist, U.S. National Park Service
Eric Biber, Professor, UC Berkeley School of Law
Moderator:
Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law
Golden State On Fire: The Science, Law, and Policy of Wildfire in California
