ABSTRACT
Well known for its relatively mild climate, productive fisheries, agriculture, and dense human settlements, California is being devastated by climate change. Drought, warming temperatures, and other processes are fueling intense fires and water shortages, while increased El Niño–Southern Oscillation and other changes pose threats to marine ecosystems. This chapter explores the importance of historical ecology for informing past climate change in coastal California. The synthesis herein illustrates how long-term environmental change and human activities shaped present conditions and how perspectives from the past can help prepare for future climatic instability and promote equitability and social justice.
