Climate Change

A Political Interlude

Dear Subscribers and Readers,

As we approach this most critical US presidential election, I am taking a one-time only break from my usual newsletter and its focus on local human and natural history and somewhat goofy tone and taking a political bent. If you don't want to go that direction with me, you may not want to proceed. But I’d be honored if you considered my words, even if you don’t agree with me.

I’ll return next week with a typical newsletter…about how I got to be a wolverine in the wild for a few minutes.

And, for those who read my story last week about horse chestnuts, here’s a shocking story about World Conker’s Championship, in which one tries to best a competitor with one’s chestnut.

Respectfully,
David

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I have been thinking about climate lately. As someone who is fascinated with the natural world, how could I not? The recent tragedies created by hurricanes Helene and Martin are sad and sobering, and unfortunately, an indicator that the future of climate change is already here, wreaking havoc on an epic scale. Just look at how climate change-induced heat in the Gulf of Mexico has been fomenting more powerful and destructive storms. It’s a pretty simple scientific equation: the warmer the air the more water it can carry and then drop. We are seeing this not just in the Gulf but around the world, clearly illustrating the scientific consensus that human-caused climate change is the cause for much of the misery we are experiencing.

Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, places often cited as being areas that will be outside the most dramatic effects of climate change and thus may be sought out as climate refuges, will, and are, experiencing altered precipitation patterns, more profound flooding, and unprecedented weather events, such as the 2021 heat dome. No matter where you live, you have been weathering weather directly related to human-caused global warming. If you have any doubt, turn on the news, read a newspaper, look out your window; the evidence is everywhere and the rising costs astronomical.

At this point in time, the biggest single question regarding climate change is not why it’s happening or what can we do about it, it’s why people still think it’s a hoax or that humans aren’t responsible for global warming. Nearly every day, and certainly during hurricane season, the effects of climate change are front page headlines, and none of it is good news. It's like reading a bottle of shampoo: lather-rinse-repeat; epic storm-epic devastation-repeat. Billions in damages. Hundreds dead. Homes and businesses destroyed. Infrastructure ripped apart.

Yet, politicians continue not only to spew lies about climate change but also to lie about the vast sums of money provided by the government to those in need of disaster recovery funding. (I am always intrigued by those who complain about government intrusion and then immediately turn to the federal government for financial relief following natural disasters, and then complain when they don’t get enough money.) The prevaricators are playing on people’s fears and insecurities and mistrust of government. The lies hurt not only those who need to be helped, and are being helped, but also those trying to give that money and relief to those in need. The mavens of mendacity know what they are doing; their behavior is despicable, immoral, and unforgivable.

So let me simply cut to the chase. The 2024 election presents a clear choice. On one side is a party that is trying to address one of the most critical issues of our time with thoughtful and nuanced responses; they may not always be correct but they understand that if we don’t continue to work together to address climate change, the floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, drought, and high temperatures of today will become far more common and cripple more communities, destroy more infrastructure, damage more lives, and cost more billions of dollars. On the other side is a party that denies the existence of climate change and advocates for further destructive human behavior focused on short term profit. Not surprisingly, I don’t want my country represented by someone who chooses to use lies for political gain, particularly from a person who seems without shame or compassion.

And, finally, I simply urge you to do two things.

1. Pay attention to the changes occurring around you, such as earlier flowering dates, cedar tree dieback, and hotter temperatures. As I have written before: “Our planet, our neighborhood, each is sensitive to temperature change. As I walk the streets around my home, I cannot help but be fascinated by small variations and worried about the detrimental effects of the big changes we are inflicting on our planet.”

2. Vote. My father long impressed upon me that we have few greater responsibilities or privileges than choosing who represents us and how our government should govern, at all levels from local to national. I always think of this when I see the efforts—waiting in line for hours, traveling great distances, navigating racist voting procedures—that so many go through to vote, in this country and around the world. Ask those people if they think that voting is important. Your vote does count.