We might be in a climate crash, but NOT BECAUSE OF CO2.
the issue is water and specifically, the olgallala aquifer.
Basically, this is a giant underground lake that lies underneath the great plains of the usa and it is being pumped dry to irrigate crops.
The level has dropped by about 180 feet over the last 40 years.
From Wiki:
The Ogallala Aquifer is a shallow water table aquifer located beneath the Great Plains in the United States. One of the world’s largest aquifers, it underlies an area of approximately 174,000 mi² (450,000 km²) in portions of eight states: (South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas).
...
The water-saturated thickness of the Ogallala Formation ranges from a few feet to more than 1000 feet (300 m) and is generally greater in the northern plains.[5
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As of 2005, the total depletion since pre-development amounted to 253,000,000 acre feet (312 km3).[6] Some estimates indicate the remaining volume could be depleted as soon as 2028
There is reason for concern about the Ogallala Aquifer but saving it will require political willpower and a different approach in each state.
First, there are areas where the saturated thickness of the aquifer is increasing, thanks to sound water management practices and the Nebraska Sandhills which act as a large recharge basin. The good news is, the aquifer is healthy and maintaining itself normally in the “breadbasket” areas where efficient irrigation and management practices are in place. Nebraska can continue as-is forever and the aquifer will be just fine.
The depletion problem is greatest in the southern-most fringe of the aquifer, particularly in the Llano Estacado region of northern Texas. The vaunted Texas government has allowed the worst form of water management (known as “right of capture”) to basically pump the aquifer dry under the theory of “first some, first served” for so many years that yes, they are now facing a major water crisis. Cropland that could sustain food and fiber production for decades to come is now useless due to the lack of water, and we have Texas politicans to thank for that. It’s now too late for some areas, no matter what is done.
Further north in western Kansas depletion rates are alarmingly high because laws allow a majority of landowners to dictate policy. Just a few months ago Garden City area users rejected a plan that would have reduced usage by 20%. It’s all about money and political power - how many conservatives will support a “water rights war”?
I’m a capitalist and strong supporter of individual rights, but conserving natural resources is one of the basic conservative values, and this is a case where the good of the public has to be put ahead of the rights of individual landowners. It will take improved water management policies and politicians who are willing to stand up to tge big-beltbuckle types in order to safeguard the aquifer for posterity.
Have you ever thought about plants?