Earth In Crisis: We Can Do This

Yes, The Climate News Can Be Grim And Overwhelming; Here Are Local Actions We Are Taking To Save The Planet

By Tracey MacDermott

For the GPHN

First the bad news. This last year our globe continued to break records — and not the kind that are hospitable to life.

We witnessed the two hottest days ever recorded in July. Summer closed out in a blaze of glory, leaving us with the hottest September we have ever seen. Meanwhile, Down Under in the Southern Hemisphere, Antarctica reached an all-time low for sea ice.

Last month the BBC reported about a third of the days on Earth so far this year, on average, were 1.5° Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels. By Oct. 2 we had reached a total of 86 days of temperatures above those levels. Keep in mind that scientists have warned us that we must stay below 1.5 Celsius to avert climate disaster. Many of us experienced a long hot summer, and the Atlantic Ocean recorded its warmest year on record, marking a slew of billion-dollar disasters.

Earlier this year, scientists issued another warning in its sixth assessment report: Now is our last chance to do something meaningful to solve the biggest threat to humanity, a crisis of which we created. The report pushed for ambitious action. If we act, we can save our future.

All that grim news may be overwhelming, so let’s also highlight a few positives. And yes, there is much to be thankful for.

At a national level, the Inflation Reduction Act has helped spur energy efficiency, climate-smart agriculture and conservation while creating good paying jobs. It has made $9.7 billion available to support rural electric cooperatives, $1.3 billion in grants to agricultural producers, $1 billion to fund clean energy projects and aid in sales of electric vehicles. All are necessary steps to lower our carbon emissions.

Locally, Denver’s Climate Protection Fund has accelerated opportunities for job creation, solar, battery storage, eBikes and energy efficiency. Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. is a benefactor of this program. Your registered neighborhood organization (RNO) successfully applied, and we now have solar on the roof of our building, at 2823 Fairfax St. Currently we are undergoing a feasibility process to convert the building to 100 percent electric.

In addition, GPHC, Inc. is part of Certifiably Green Denver and Colorado’s Green Business Network (CGBN). Last month the RNO was awarded a Spotlight Innovator Award from CBGN for electrifying the community building. In fact, during the award ceremony Gov. Jared Polis specifically mentioned our work. It was a proud moment.

GPHC, Inc. has been awarded several grants through the Denver Micro CALC grant program. The latest will help with community clean-ups along the Colfax corridor and will serve as a collaboration effort with our neighboring communities. Please consider joining our team to help with this project. The amount of trash in our city and major streets are not only an eyesore but contributes to our climate problems.

You may have noticed that at both the Oct. 1 Home Tour and Street Fair and the Oct. 15 Fall Festival that a company called r.Cup was present with reusable cups, which helped us reduce the amount of single use plastic at both events. We applied for grants to cover the cost and are grateful to the City of Denver’s funding opportunities to help us reduce plastic pollution.

GPHC, Inc. also holds a Garden in a Box Giveaway in the spring, a sustainability zone at the Street Fair, e-recycling events, a free farm stand, a community garden, a yard sale, Earth Day and general street clean ups. We partner with Animal Rescue groups providing expired food for our furry companions while keeping food waste out of landfills. We compost to reduce our trash and energy consumption.

The newspaper you are reading has been recognized for its climate coverage. Mark Silverstein’s recent two-part coverage of the destruction along First Creek in Green Valley Ranch has broken critical, in-depth (and heartbreaking) stories that no other news organization has covered. Mark, along with Reid Neureiter, regularly contribute amazing photos of wildlife that highlight the need to protect our natural areas and habitat. Mark Kuhl contributes insightful tips every month on ways to recycle and save the environment.

We are thankful for all of you who have volunteered for our environmental events and began leading in your community, such as the Park Hill Climate Action Team. You have provided hope and possibilities that will ultimately solve the biggest threat to humanity and to other species we share this beautiful space with.

Collectively, we can solve the climate crisis.

Tracey MacDermott is an at-large member of the board of Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., and immediate past chair. 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. She can be reached at traceymacdermott@gmail.com.