EDITORIAL SUMMER OF SIZZLE FORECASTS OF COMING HOT WEATHER ARE CALL TO ACTION.

BLACKOUTS turning air-conditioning units silent. People cooking in seemingly endless triple-digit heat. Supersized wildfires tearing across a parched state. Water rationing.

Here, from the perspective of cold, wet and frigidly windy January days, these threats seem extremely unlikely, if not impossible. But Californians ought to be hot and bothered, because all of those calamities -- and possibly some we haven't even thought of -- could be in store for 2007.

Meteorologists are predicting a weather double-whammy this year. First, they expect an uncommonly dry year thanks to El Nino conditions. The first survey of the Sierra snowpack this year found lower-than-average levels that bear this out.

But what is set to make this the hottest year on record across the globe is a combination of greenhouse emissions, ever-expanding real-estate development and a cyclical warming trend.

That means Southern California, home to some of the smoggiest and hottest and most paved-over spots on Earth, will be ground zero for the summer of sizzle.

That may be the state's immediate future. But it doesn't have to be the perennial future. Not if leaders of the Golden State and each and every one of us starts thinking a little greener.

When it comes to emissions, California is one of the world's worst culprits. The state is the world's 12th-largest emitter of greenhouse gases. We can and should change that soon.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sees that California's future hinges on it maintaining a healthy and moderate climate. In the vision for California that he laid out during his second inauguration speech Friday, he said the state must lead the world in ending the dependence on fossil fuel by creating a thriving green-energy industry.

Indeed, the state has been slowly moving toward a greener future. Lawmakers have endorsed piecemeal legislation such as encouraging residential solar power and the purchasing of hybrid fuel vehicles. But those measures aren't enough to offset the damage already done.

With the knowledge that this summer is going to be a hot one, this is the year to kick that action into low-emission high gear by by making better individual and collective choices.

Nature is putting the fire to our feet, and not in a figurative sense.

Let us all heed the words of our governor. It's time for this great state to do what it's best at: Lead the way. And in our own best interests, that way must be a deep shade of green.