Los Angeles is ablaze. Energy companies ignited the flames. Soon, the globe will grow apathetic.

Apologies for sounding callous, but it’s a reality.

You’ve likely encountered the news, images, and evacuation charts. At least 25 lives were lost, over 12,000 residences and other structures were obliterated, incurring tens of billions in damages and losses. Perhaps you, your relatives, or acquaintances have been compelled to flee. Maybe the winds howled so fiercely that you were jolted awake in the middle of the night, filled with dread.

This is the face of climate turmoil.

No coal magnate sparked a fire. No oil drillers ignited Southern California by desiccating the landscape. There are no gas company leaders who have opted to construct a neighborhood in an area already susceptible to wildfires.

However, a worldwide economy dependent on fossil fuels, paired with a U.S. political framework mainly funded by fossil fuel firms and their supporters, has led us to this juncture. Following two wet winters that allowed grasses and brush (ideal for ignition) to flourish on Southern California’s mountainous terrains, recent months have witnessed a sudden shift to unprecedentedly dry conditions. This type of meteorological whiplash is a signature of global warming.

Factor in the Santa Ana’s violent gusts, and a catastrophic scenario emerges.

As I exited my West Los Angeles apartment last week, donning an N95 mask to avoid inhaling too many harmful particles, I was appalled by the gray-orange gloom from the Palisades fire that enveloped a large portion of the sky. Instantly, my wife and I were bombarded with messages and calls inquiring, “Are you alright?” Is there anything I can assist with?

I then discovered that oil behemoth Exxon Mobil is taking legal action against California Attorney General Rob Bonta, asserting that Bonta damaged the company’s image by unjustly endorsing plastic recycling. Before President-elect Donald Trump’s swearing-in, I read that the top financial entities in the U.S. have distanced themselves from the banking sector’s largest climate change coalition. I came across an article where President Trump erroneously accused Governor Gavin Newsom of somehow instigating the fires.

Meanwhile, our cousin residing in the Hollywood Hills has evacuated their home. Our friends in the Pacific Palisades have lost their possessions.

That’s tragic. It’s maddening. And it won’t halt the climate emergency.

For numerous Angelenos, this marks the most distressing encounter yet with global warming. Yet, hundreds of millions of Americans confront fossil fuel catastrophes, while the politics surrounding climate change mitigation remain largely stagnant.

In 2018, the Camp Fire claimed 85 lives and annihilated the Northern California community of Paradise. Moreover, the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities. Just a few months back, Hurricane Helen and Hurricane Milton impacted the southeastern U.S., resulting in a combined death toll of 250.

These environmental catastrophes didn’t alter the reality that the Republican Party is nearly entirely reliant on the fossil fuel sector. None of them have taken sufficiently bold actions toward moving away from fossil fuels, even though Democrats are mainly dedicated to tackling climate change (consider President Biden’s Anti-Inflation Act). That fact remains unchanged.

Furthermore, all of these individuals are billionaires and influential executives capable of altering the political landscape more effectively than anyone else — many are technology innovators, Hollywood icons, and sports moguls — right here in Los Angeles. — yet that hasn’t shifted their predominant focus on profit over ensuring a safer world.

Will this time bring about a change?

Do not leave it to fortune. Insist on improvement.

Once the fires extinguish and the haze dissipates, continue discussing the climate emergency. Engage in conversations about it on social media and over meals. When you cast your vote, make it a pivotal topic. Support businesses whose leadership and practices align with your principles. Subscribe to media outlets that report on climate issues. Utilize electricity whenever possible. Please consider using public transit.

In essence, make it clear to the affluent and influential that an episode like this is intolerable.

Otherwise, the flames will yield no change.

In this context, here’s what else is transpiring in the Western world.

at the forefront

Firefighters are combating a blaze in the Palisades on January 7th.

(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

Aside from the fatalities and devastation, six wildfires and over 40,000 acres scorched have disrupted daily routines in ways that are challenging to grasp if you aren’t a resident. Schools shut down. Extensive power outages occurred. Surgical procedures were canceled, and nursing facilities experienced evacuations. Film and television personnel, already grappling with employment issues, faced job losses. Low-wage landscapers navigate through smoke due to their inability to forgo a workday.

Sports have also felt the impact, though this may appear trivial in the broader context. It’s a financial setback for businesses dependent on revenue from live events and a psychological blow to fans who enjoy supporting their favorite teams. According to the Times’ Sam Farmer, the fire compelled the NFL to relocate the Rams’ playoff match from Southern California to Arizona.

Some injuries may remain unhealed. My colleagues Colleen Shalby, Melissa Gomez, and Brittney Mejia reported on the destruction inflicted by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, which is a culturally diverse and relatively affordable community in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. The Times’ James Rainey expressed sadness over the loss of his childhood residence in Malibu.

On a personal level, it deeply saddened me to discover that the ranch house of actor Will Rogers was consumed by flames. I had passed by that location numerous times while hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains and had always intended to take a tour. It was merely one among many historic sites lost in the fire, including Altadena’s unique Bunny Museum and the residence of Western writer Zane Grey. Climate change will further complicate preservation efforts, as reported by the Times’ Daniel Miller.

In these moments, the inclination is to assign blame and search for scapegoats. We must indeed rely on civil servants and influential figures to exert their utmost effort, particularly as the planet continues to heat up.

However, our guidance should stem from facts and science, not merely the most vocal individual present.

For instance, billionaire Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso and billionaire adviser Elon Musk might have mitigated or slowed the fires by maintaining better brush control in the mountains. He seems to believe it’s feasible. Yet, the Times’ environmental journalist Alex Wigglesworth consulted genuine fire specialists and learned that due to climate change, the landscape was excessively dry and the winds so severe that enhancing brush clearance would not have significantly aided. Even had he attempted it, he stated, it would likely have had limited effect.

In another instance: The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power faced considerable damage from diminished water pressure in fire hydrants, as did the Pacific Palisades Reservoir, which was undergoing maintenance when the fire began. However, specialists claim the firefighting conditions were so extraordinary that officials were completely overwhelmed.

We should place our trust in the scientists who dedicate their lives to comprehending these challenges. Unfortunately, it has become fashionable these days for individuals who disseminate misinformation, whether intentionally or not, to do so with malice. The Times’ Karen Garcia provides a guide for identifying fake news and distinguishing genuine journalism as the fire continues to rage.

All of this serves as a reminder of one of the primary factors underlying catastrophe: climate change.

This 2024 Earth map depicts how warmer or cooler each part of the planet was in comparison to the average temperatures from 1951 to 1980. Regions with above-average temperatures are illustrated in red and orange, while areas with below-average temperatures are shown in blue.

(NASA Scientific Visualization Studio)

As reported by my colleagues Corinne Purtill and Karen Kaplan, 2024 is projected to be the hottest year ever documented on Earth, exceeding the record established in 2023. The surface temperature of the planet is approximately 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, which scientists advise we must urgently avoid. Upcoming years will also see this trend. The burning of fossil fuels has been the primary reason.

The wildfires serve as a stark reminder that Los Angeles and other urban areas were not designed with climate change considerations, and that a reassessment of our infrastructure, housing, financial systems, and other factors is vital for enduring the ongoing rise in temperatures. It strongly reminds meof this. A few narratives that address these urgent issues:

Los Angeles County has approved construction permits for 24,300 residences in 2023; however, wildfires have obliterated at least half of those structures. Rental rates will also increase in areas affected by fires. (Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times) In an effort to assist wildfire survivors in reconstructing their homes promptly, Newsom will waive specific building permit and ecological assessment requirements. (Seema Mehta, Liam Dillon, Rosanna Shea, Los Angeles Times) California authorities have just completed reforms on home insurance aimed at enticing insurers back into the market following wildfires spurred by climate change. Ta. Then chaos ensued. (Lawrence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times) “As the blaze extends, ought we to enhance the local water infrastructure and storage tanks to combat the flames? Where? And at what expense?” (Ian James, Matt Hamilton, Ruben Vives, LA Times)

It is also crucial to lessen the incidence of wildfires. It begins with comprehending how fires are presently igniting. In the San Gabriel Mountains, officials are examining the Edison transmission tower in Southern California as a potential ignition source for the Eaton Fire, even though Edison contends they do not believe the equipment was responsible.

As Los Angeles recuperates from these infernos and forthcoming climate change calamities, affluent families and individuals will possess an intrinsic advantage. Times columnist Anita Chhabria notes that in addressing the climate emergency, it is paramount to formulate recovery strategies that assist everyone else.

On the subject of inequality, I was captivated by a piece written by my colleague Caroline Petrou-Cohen. In this narrative, private firefighters employed by wealthy homeowners assert that their services represent a positive economic efficiency.

The recovery effort will be spearheaded by local governments but will necessitate federal financial support. Unfortunately for L.A., that means depending on Trump and a Republican-led Congress, as noted by the Times’ Kevin Rector.

Columnist Steve Lopez reflects on the joys and apprehensions of residing in a vulnerable location like California: “We exist in a bubble of denial, fretting about the probabilities whilst convincing ourselves that we will be fine.” writes. “However, in this age of rapid climate change, the status quo has shifted.”

More truthful words.

One more thing

Billy Bob Thornton portrays Tommy Norris in The Landman.

(Emerson Miller/Paramount+)

I discussed last week my discontent with “Yellowstone” co-creator Taylor Sheridan’s misleading fossil fuel narrative in the otherwise captivating Paramount+ streaming series “Landman.”

The concluding episode aired this weekend, and there was a moment towards the end that left me speechless.

I will leave out the specifics. However, in brief: During a discreet dialogue with drug cartel leader Garino (Andy Garcia), Tommy Norris, played by Billy Bob Thornton, realizes that his prospects in the oil sector might be constricted. Oil and Gas ultimately concedes – after an entire season that no technology can substitute it.

“The commodities you offer have no future,” Norris tells Garino.

“I’m more intrigued by the products you provide,” Garino responds.

“I’m beginning to perceive no future,” Norris states.

Did Norris actually believe the fabrications he had been fed all season? Was he deceiving himself? Will Sheridan heed my suggestion and narrate a tale about the clash of fossil fuels and renewable energy in the next season?

Hoping for the best.

This is the latest installment of Boiling Point, a newsletter focusing on climate change and the environment in the American West. Subscribe here to receive it in your inbox. Or access the newsletter in your web browser here.

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