Science released a frightening study last week. We are likely in the Southwest to experience a decades-long drought worse than the mega-drought that hit the Puebloans 700 years ago. Why, I ask myself, am I not doing more to reduce greenhouse gasses and encourage decision-makers to get serious about addressing global warming? The realization that we have already released so much greenhouse gas that we cannot avoid many negatives of global warming makes me want to give up, focus on another realm where it doesn’t matter. But, that is illogical, selfish and not very adult of me.
I know that what we do now still matters – especially to our children and grandchildren. The best science suggests if we get serious about reducing greenhouse gasses now, we can hold the line at 3.5 degrees temperature increase. Human society and many other species can adapt to that. If we fail to act now, temperatures will reach 7 or 8 degrees warmer globally by century’s end, leaving very tough conditions. There is no need to be a bit player in enacting a tragedy. Studies show that efforts to reduce energy and other resource use by households alone could produce one-fifth of the needed reduction in greenhouse gases.
We also must get leaders to enact policies that will bring needed changes to industry, housing, transportation and land use. These changes, added up, can stabilize the atmosphere. I was at a climate-change meeting 10 years ago where venture capitalists were eager to fund new technologies but needed clear policies imposing costs on greenhouse gas emissions. Free-market economists have long argued a tax on carbon would provide impetus for needed changes. We have options. If more of us push leaders to make global warming the priority it should be, we can prevent the worst of global warming. Time to stop sitting around hoping for snow.
Deborah Paulson
Durango
