Clyde Burnett, Boulder County.  The year 2017 has shown extreme contrasts of climate change, very large solar energy projects on BLM land in Nevada, a huge divestment by NY state and city pension, and Bill McKibben has news of important divestment activity in Norway.

Question: What about climate changes?

Answer: The CO2 heat trapping continues with global warming, and the Earth responded with three catagory 5 hurricanes and windy drought conditions that produced disastrous California wildfires.   

Deniers predicted a costly transition to renewables, but these are now becoming less costly with mass production and technical advances. The alternative is an increase in extreme hurricanes requiring more costly adaptation, especially for states, cities, and individuals, due to storms like Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

Question: Are there local costs?

Answer: Insurance costs have increased, federal income tax is used for FEMA, and the USFS must now utilize a large portion of its budget to fight fires increased by dry winds.

Question: Have we had local climate mitigation activity?

Answer: Gilpin commissioners have passed a resolution that the US should maintain a commitment to the Paris Accord. The Nederland town council has committed to 100% renewables by 2025. Local citizens and organizations are becoming more aware and more active in the fight against climate change.

We observed the return of a flock of 300 rosy finches in January, seeking food in heavy snow after a 20-year absence from our yards. High winds in early November brought a single rosy from higher elevations. He is still here this week.

President Trump works to abolish climate policies and projects of the Obama administration, and, with approval by Republican Congress, continues to appoint non-scientists to important climate positions. Trump ended research support for previous 7–year tropical climate studies and half of Arctic research; now we can expect an increasing absence of science facts. Republicans passed a tax reform law predicted to increase the national debt by 1.5 trillion. Now China will lead the rest of the world to correct our abandonment of the Paris Accord.

Question: Ninety-seven percent of scientists agree that climate change is real. How do those scientists view the activities of our President and Congress?

Answer: They must be shocked by the lack of respect for our planet that has natural laws yielding a climate most suited for the civilization that has evolved. At best, we find it difficult to believe those government individuals could be ignorant ofif due to global warming and Earth’s response. Or if they are aware of the natural laws, they have chosen to ignore these in favor of the human rules of economy that benefit the fossil industries. These have preferentially profited certain of their constituents and supporters. This would be an intentional, immoral abandonment of Earth civilization for selfish short-term interests.

With our democratic procedures, we have elected them to positions of power. Those supporting voters were either acting simply like sheep to follow a tradition of voting for the party of their ancestors, or their education was so poor that they were also ignorant of the relevant science.

Where were the intelligent voters in this democracy described by Jefferson? Perhaps their education was also so poor that they were uncertain of the science, or they simply abandoned their duty to vote. We must correct these deficiencies, unless we effectively join this government, which is designing an untenable climate for our children and grandchildren.