Earth In Crisis: Hot Times Ahead
We Must Repair Our Planet. First Step: Call The Governor
By Tracey MacDermott
For the GPHN
Our planet is no doubt heating up and humans are the problem. Every day seems to bring another report that contains dire and more frightening warnings. Between the multiple Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports of a globe in crisis, terrifying climate catastrophes and lack of seemingly political will to hold oil and gas accountable, having hope can be a struggle.
While the Biden Administration approved the strongest climate legislation ever seen, our own state of Colorado continues to issue fracking permits. Gov. Jared Polis oversees the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, which issues those permits. Since the 2019 passage of SB181 — which is intended to ensure that oil and gas development in Colorado is regulated in a manner that protects public health — the commission has only denied one oil and gas development plan. More than 4,500 wells have been approved since the bill was signed into law.
The third edition of the Climate Change in Colorado, published last month by Colorado State University researchers, paints a grim future for our state and water supply.
So, what are the key takeaways from the report?
It is getting hotter.
From 1980 to 2022 we already experienced warmer temperatures, with an increase of 2.3 degrees Fahrenheit. By 2050, CSU researcher Becky Bolinger noted, Colorado statewide annual temperatures are projected to warm by 2.5 to 5.0 degrees Fahrenheit compared to the late 20th century, and 1 to 4 degrees compared to what we see today.
What do warmer temperatures lead to? More drought and wildfires.
Since 2002, Colorado has experienced its 10 biggest fires. The Cameron Peak fire in 2020 burned more than 200,000 acres, the largest in our history. You may remember the eerie orange painting the sky over Denver. Coloradans were advised to stay inside due to poor air quality.
Adding fuel, our state will be drier, leading to increasing fire danger. The report notes that warming temperatures will likely reduce water supplies. Models predict reductions of snowpack between 5 percent to 30 percent by 2050, compared to the years between 1971 and 2000.
Colorado’s soil moisture has been declining and this adds to a negative feedback loop. According to the report, “rapid depletion of soil moisture under warm conditions exacerbates warming. When summer sunshine hits a landscape with dry soil a greater fraction of solar energy directly heats the surface, leading to even warmer conditions.”
And that’s not all. According to the report, droughts are predicted to be more frequent and intense; hot days and heatwaves will be more common, while cold nights and cold waves will decrease. Colorado has experienced four severe droughts since 2002. As land dries up it can’t effectively absorb rainfall. When we do experience heavy and extreme rainfall — which is also a result of climate change — the water will run off the parched landscape, leading to devastating flooding.
Since the early 2000s, events called Dust on Snow have been a concern. (Maybe this is a term you haven’t heard? Neither had I.) Well, dust is not uncommon in our southern mountains, but historically is unusual in our northern mountains. Not so anymore. Blowing dust blankets the snow, heating it up by absorbing the sun and accelerating snowmelt and early runoff.
Humans have altered the natural world. We must repair and protect it.
Which brings us back to our first point, fracking. What to do? Call your legislators and Gov. Polis and demand that fracking be phased out in Colorado. Now. It’s a first step, and an important one.
Tracey MacDermott is an at-large member of the board of Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. She was trained as a Climate Reality Leader in 2017, and is currently the Statewide Co-Chair of the Climate Reality Project for the 100% Committed Campaign. Email her at traceymacdermott@gmail.com.