I am very concerned about climate change and the losses we are experiencing, and will continue to experience, if we do not address this issue immediately.
Our coral reefs are experiencing more bleaching events at a greater frequency. According to the U.S. National Ocean Service, when the oceans are too warm, this will cause coral bleaching, where corals turn completely white. The coral is not dead, but can die, if the algae loss is prolonged and the stress continues.
According to the New York Times, we are experiencing a major bleaching event, which was unheard of before the 1980s, every six years. The more frequently the bleaching events occur, the less likely the coral reefs will recover. As a result of two recent major bleaching events, half the corals along the Great Barrier Reef have died.
Our coral reefs are not only spectacularly beautiful, they are home to a quarter of all marine fish species. We all lose when coral reefs continue to bleach and die due to warming oceans.
Mayor White has called on all of us, Independents, Republicans, and Democrats, to work together to address climate change. We need to increase our energy efficiency, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and reduce our energy consumption. The impacts of climate change affect all of us.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a bipartisan group focused on national policies to address climate change. I invite everyone, particularly conservatives, to join us. For more information please visit our website: https://durangoccl.org.
Gail Harriss
Durango
