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Guest Opinion: Sense of urgency needed on climate change Friday Sep 2, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Eric Dittmer As an environmental studies professor for two decades, now retired but still alert, I have noted the increasing importance of climate change in both the scientific and academic community — for good reason. As I write this column, multiple fires burn in California with another here in Jackson County. Comments from fire captains indicate that, because of persistent drought conditions and tinder-dry vegetation, fires start more readily, are more aggressive and much harder to contain. Flooding in Louisiana from recent massive rainfall — in some cases over 30 inches in a few days, which is 1.5 times what our Bear Creek region receives in a year — resulted in the worst flood damage since super storm Sandy. According to the National Weather Service, 2015 was the hottest year on record, 2016 may be even worse and this July was the hottest July on record. Locally our recent heat spell resulted in temperatures that were among the highest in the nation. Meanwhile, snowpack at the end of the 2015-2016 winter was only 10 percent of normal. Rogue and Klamath basin salmon are dying from increased water temperature. While no single event can be attributed directly to climate change, longer term trends of global warming, melting ice caps, sea-level rise, more frequent extreme weather, fires and prolonged drought conditions indicate a trend that deserves immediate attention. Ongoing population growth places additional burdens on the earth’s resources. The impacts of climate change are now more obvious to an increasing number of people who can see the big picture. Unfortunately there is increasing evidence that the time frame for action is shorter than originally predicted. Burning fossil fuels for energy and transportation needs releases carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas that traps heat. Meanwhile, extracting and transmitting natural gas releases methane, an even more potent greenhouse gas. Developed countries such as the Unites States are the largest users of energy. Developing countries such as China and India, where most population growth occurs, desire the same lifestyle benefits we enjoy. That will add to the demand for energy and burning more fossil fuels. If all the earth’s 7 billion-plus people lived a developed country lifestyle, it would require more than more earths to provide the needed resources. Fortunately, awareness of the implications and immediacy of the situation is growing. I compare this with the trend toward racial equality in the 1960s, when recognition of racial injustice was addressed and the campaign for racial justice began in earnest. We need to use the same approach to vigorously attack the causes of climate change. The challenge now is to increase public awareness and instill a sense of urgency about the need for action to achieve a critical mass of human resolve to avoid the “tipping point” of runaway global warming. President Obama and others have noted that our generation is the first to realize the significance of climate change for all of us and the last generation to be able to do anything about it. Talking about it is not enough, but the actions required are not easy. Many citizens in developed countries have taken for granted the easy access to energy resulting from burning fossil fuels. For example, the U.S., with about 5 percent of the world’s population, uses about 30 percent of globally produced energy. Effectively addressing climate change needs to happen at the international, national and local levels. The recent Paris agreement, signed by 175 countries setting goals for greenhouse gas emission reductions, is a necessary start internationally. At the national level our government is promoting increased fuel efficiency in transportation, revising emission standards from factories and vehicles, and promoting the growth of alternate energy to reduce the use of fossil fuels. What can we do at the individual level? Appreciate the value of our abundant natural resources. Practice conservation by reducing consumption and increasing recycling. Promote the use of sustainable energy. Support candidates for all offices who accept science and encourage them to take appropriate legislative action. Encourage family and friends to act as well. While, as individuals, we don’t “own” our atmosphere, oceans, forests or other natural resources, we do have a responsibility to protect our environment for this and future generations. — Eric Dittmer of Medford is professor emeritus of environmental studies at Southern Oregon University and active in Southern Oregon Climate Action Now.