Pacific Institute Senior Researcher Michael Cohen submitted written testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife for their October 20, 2021 hearing on drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin and potential response measures.

Cohen described the drying of the American West, the exemplary efforts of many Colorado River water users to adapt to these conditions, and the compelling need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions since adaptation will not be sufficient. Cohen noted the urgency for to enacting aggressive climate mitigation legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while continuing to support the impressive and innovative adaptation efforts that have enabled many in the West to postpone the worst impacts of the accelerating crisis