Climate disruption is here

After sparking a youth climate movement in Europe with her own initiative and resolve, a 16-year-old girl crossed the Atlantic under sail to speak at the UN and be heard by the world. Her message was clear: We are creating a massive anthropogenic (human caused) climate disruption that will rapidly degrade and ultimately destroy Earth’s abundant habitat.

Greta Thunberg spoke truthfully and passionately, admonishing her elders to face the truth about the mayhem being forced on her generation, then to be decisive and do something to mitigate the damage.

It’s time for us to do just that. Spokane can help by following through with the City Council’s aspirational ordinance to be fossil-free by 2045. And by the state passing its “Clean Fuel Standards” act. It passed the House but stalled in the Senate. And by electrifying personal and public transportation. By moving rapidly to renewables like wind and solar. By creating walkable communities within the city to help get people out of their cars to travel short distances.

Anthropogenic climate disruption is here and it will get worse. At some point in America’s future our ability as free citizens to choose how we respond to this crisis will be strangled by government at all levels as they respond (much too late) to those inevitable, dire circumstances we all will face. The jury is no longer out on this issue. The science is sound and scary. Please stay informed and get involved.

Barry Kathrens

Spokane