Earth In Crisis: The Future Has Arrived
Sober News Amid Drought And Heat; So What Do We Do?
By Tracey MacDermott
Chair, GPHN, Inc.
The month of June delivered blistering record-breaking heat with seemingly no end in sight. The early heat wave is a stark reminder: Climate change is here.
Well, it has been here for quite some time. However now that people are experiencing it firsthand, reality has arrived in our daily conversations with one another.
Citizens were advised to stay inside and to watch out for heat-related illnesses. Mayor Michael B. Hancock tweeted that residents could find relief in one of Denver’s many cooling centers, including Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center. The Mile High City is near the top of the list for the heat island effect, which is brought on when cities replace natural land cover with pavement and buildings which retain heat. The high temperatures and compounding factor of the heat island impacts human health and leads to heat-related deaths.
The negative feedback loop that is well underway in our city further contributes to poorer air quality by increasing ground level ozone — commonly known as smog. While Denver continues its trajectory of continued poor air quality, Colorado is entering fire season — another factor that contributes to worsening the already bad air. The state is facing a grim forecast for livability.
Many environmental groups long ago predicted the southwest’s climate future. The predictions included temperature increases, drought, tree mortality, increased fire danger and insect outbreaks. The predictions expanded to include cities, which would undergo increased heat stress and infrastructure stress due to disruptions of electric power generation. All of which we are experiencing.
Colorado’s Western Slope is in the midst of extreme drought, and 43 percent of the state is experiencing moderate drought. The Southwest U.S. has experienced the highest increase in overall temperatures, and water cutbacks have been implemented in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico due to the low levels of the Colorado River.
Last October the Colorado River was already down 25 percent. At this rate, it’s guaranteed that some communities in the region will soon experience water shortages to some degree. As CNN and other outlets reported in April, one result of the West’s ongoing drought, coupled with climate change, is that there is now more water being taken out of a river system that provides water to 40 million people than is flowing into it.
So what do we do?
First, start with you. Take a look at your water bill and review how much water you are using and how you can lower your water usage. If you have a beautiful green lawn, it is more than likely your outdoor green carpet is also your household’s largest water consumer. Consider converting your grass and yard to native and drought-tolerant plants. You can help improve water quality by adding permeable space to your landscape by removing unnecessary concrete and increasing the amount of green space on your property. The Center for Resource Conservation is a great resource to help you and has been turning turf and concrete into colorful and vibrant spaces for many years.
We all like that extra long shower. We let the water flow from the kitchen sink full-blast. Doing so wastes gallons of a life-giving resource. Consider putting a bucket in the shower with you to collect and later use to feed your plants. Turn the faucet off when rinsing your dishes (do you really need to rinse before placing in the dishwasher?). Teach your kids and challenge other members of your household to all do better.
Agriculture uses about 70 percent of Earth’s fresh water. Farming practices such as regenerative agriculture, which promotes soil health, uses much less water than traditional farming.
Ask your state legislators to make water conservation a top priority by incentivizing regenerative agriculture. This year’s legislative session created an Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office (HB-21-1242). Grants from this office “must pay for…practices to address and mitigate impacts of climate change or drought.” Call or write your legislators and ask them to prioritize grantees who are willing to convert to regenerative agricultural practices.
Ask Mayor Hancock to preserve and increase parkland to help reduce the heat island effect in our city. We are burning up, and Denver is lagging way, way, way behind on park space. It is no wonder why we are struggling with the heat in our city.
Scientists have been warning us for decades. While some were working hard to educate and act, too many denied and lied about the climate crisis now on our front door. We have lost precious time to turn this around. Our new normal is here. It may be terrifying, but it’s never been clearer we need to act.
Tracey MacDermott is chair 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.