加州連年乾旱開始限制用水

California Governor Jerry Brown is defending his decision to exempt farmers from most mandatory water restrictions, as a historic drought worsens in the far western U.S. state.

Brown told ABC television's "This Week" public affairs program Sunday that California farmers are "providing most of the fruits and vegetables of America to a significant part of the world."

But he said he may re-examine a century-old state law that allows California farmers to pay less for water than everyone else. He called that system "archaic."

The governor imposed mandatory water restrictions on homes and businesses across the entire state last week as the drought enters its fourth year. Most of the state is in what experts call an exceptional drought. Those who violate the rules could face large fines.

A new report issued the day after Mr. Brown signed his executive action warns that California is facing billions of dollars of losses due to climate change by 2050, as coastal property disappears under rising sea levels, while its agricultural lands grow dry from increasing temperatures and continued drought.美國加州州長布朗爲他決定農民不受強制性限水措施進行辯解。加州歷史性的乾旱正在加劇。

布朗州長星期天告訴美國廣播公司“本週”節目說，加州農民生產美國在向世界上很多地區提供的大部分水果和蔬菜。

但是他表示會重新審視一項已經有一個世紀之久的州法律。這項法律允許加州農民比其他人支付較低的水費。他稱這個法律系統“過時”。

加州乾旱已經進入第四年，絕大部分地區處於專家所稱的罕見乾旱之中。布朗上週下令對全州居民和企業實施強制限水措施。違反規定的人將面臨高額罰款。

布朗簽署行政令的後一天，有一項新的報告稱，到2050年，氣候變化，海平面上升，沿海房產消失，不斷升高的氣溫和持續乾旱導致農田變幹，將給加州造成數十億美元的損失。