Global warming is no fantasy, folks

There is an elephant in the room, and I am not referring to the Republican Party. It is world climate change. Year 2014 surpassed 2013 as the warmest year on record.

Since the 1880s, 14 of the warmest years have occurred in the last 15 years. Climate Central, a nonprofit organization based in Princeton, N.J., calculated the odds of such an occurrence happening by chance as less than 1 in 27 million.

Released carbon from burning fossil fuels remains in the atmosphere hundreds of years, trapping heat. Emissions specialists believe so much carbon has been allowed to accumulate over the past two decades that our only hope to keep planetary warming below the internationally agreed upon target of a 2 degree Celsius increase is for wealthy nations to cut their emissions by 8 to 10 percent a year.

Without serious carbon reduction, the world’s fossil fuel economy may lock in dangerous warming by 2017. Fatih Birol, the International Energy Agency’s chief economist, bluntly put it: “The door to reach two degrees is about to close. In 2017, it will be closed forever.” The World Bank warned, “we’re on track for a 4-degree warmer world (by century end) marked by extreme heat waves, declining global food stocks, loss of ecosystems and biodiversity, and life-threatening sea level rise.”

Recently we celebrated the passage of the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act, protecting The Front as it currently exists. We may have protected the landscape from unwelcome human intrusion, but its rich biological diversity and integrity is still at risk due to the alarming trends in planetary warming. That is true for all our lands, protected or not.

Gov. Steve Bullock revealed reasonable options for limiting fossil fuel use in Montana. However, state and federal strategies are projected goals for 2030, a scary 15 years away.

The convening 64th Montana State Legislature and the 114th United States Congress have not yet mentioned climate change. The first concern coming from state legislators was a need for a dress code. Even more frightening, in Washington, D.C., the House and Senate (dominated by the Republican Party) passed approval for the transport (Keystone XL Pipeline) of the highest carbon emitting oil on the planet.

Our political system is failing us. And it is no wonder. The U.S. Supreme Court has declared that corporations are individuals, and unlimited campaign funding (PACs) is OK. Our state and federal representatives are being heavily influenced by corporate and 1 percent monies. Thomas Jefferson warned us long ago about the potential of “monied corporations” challenging our government.

Montanans, please think deeply and speak up! Politely “hound” your elected officials through frequent contact (write, call, email, etc.) to make sure “the people” are being represented and their best future interests are being served. Our state and federal governments need constant citizen support to promote energy conservation measures and alternative energies for reducing our collective local and international carbon footprint.

It is estimated we can reduce our energy needs by 20 to 30 percent implementing conservation measures. If every home and commercial building had superior insulation, it would be a great, cost-effective way to seriously reduce our carbon footprint. Many NorthWestern Energy heating customers are eligible for a free, one-time weatherization audit of their home. Please consider.

Thanks for listening, caring, and doing!

Rick Kerr of Choteau is a retired natural resource specialist and conservation biologist.