Western Colorado’s people and tourists who visit the area count on good weather, adequate rain and snow, and friendly hospitality. How we define “good” when it comes to weather likely varies as much as the scenery, but when it’s too hot and dry few of us enjoy the outdoors the way we once did.
Our recent hazy summer and now our hazy autumn skies resulted from wildfires both nearby and hundreds of miles away. Temperatures remain at or near record highs, and we’re potentially headed for reduced snowpack. That affects not only mountain economies and tourism, but could also mean a meager spring runoff for our rivers and streams.
Sadly, we’ve seen little discussion lately about climate change and its effects on our health and the economy, even after our historic string of billion-dollar disasters. The issues are inextricably linked and include increasingly powerful, deadly storms like Hurricane Helene.
Politicians have been mostly silent about climate change, and some deny it is even a problem. Despite claiming they care about our future, they refuse to deal with climate change.
Children born today will experience extreme climate events at a rate that is two to seven times higher than people born in 1960, according to a study in the journal Science. Another report estimates climate change will cost children born today between $500,000 and $1 million per person from cost-of-living increases and reduced earnings.
Keep this in mind when you vote: We need action on climate change now, not later.
B.J. Smith
Grand Junction
