Study Links Carbon Majors to Half of Western Water Loss
A new study finds that climate change reduced Western U.S. snowpack by over a third and streamflows by 13% from 2014 to 2024. About half of that loss is attributed to emissions from major fossil fuel companies and cement producers. The lost water equals the capacity of Lake Mead.
The study employed attribution science, modeling climate scenarios with and without specific emissions sources to isolate their effects. Researchers relied on the Carbon Majors database, which tracks emissions from 178 entities totaling 1.44 trillion tons of carbon dioxide since industrialization. The analysis covered 2014–2024, examining snowpack and streamflow data across Western river basins.
The Colorado River basin, supplying 40 million people, has faced particular strain. Findings arrive amid an acute dry season marked by record-low snowpack, early heat-driven runoff, and widespread wildfires. Nevada's recent lawsuit against federal Colorado River management highlights escalating pressure on regional water systems.
This study could influence how Western communities, tribes, and water districts approach legal claims against major emitters, potentially reshaping liability discussions. Quantifying specific corporate responsibility may affect policy debates, infrastructure investments, and water allocation negotiations. However, practical impact depends on whether courts and regulators accept attribution science as a basis for accountability, which remains an evolving legal question with significant economic and political implications.