By DAVE BARRONS
For more than 30 years I have studied weather and climate, and I believe human activity is upsetting our planet's well-balanced, natural systems. This is not a blind belief in some quasi-religious or ideological position. It is a matter of the preponderance of evidence.
Consider that for 200 years humans have mined massive amounts of carbon in the form of oil and coal from the Earth, and released it into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. That's not part of the planet's natural cycle of carbon. This carbon has been stored away, out of the natural cycle, for eons before being released by humans and their machines into the atmosphere. That release has been extremely sudden on any climatic time scale.
In my many talks on climate change I've often found there was little room for discussion. My own conviction that man-made climate change is a real threat was butting heads with some who either distrust science and intellect, or who think any talk of climate change is part of a broader conspiracy to destroy our economy and our country.
We face a choice of two paths to follow: Either we do nothing, living life with no vision of a need to change; or we take action and a new economy can emerge based on energy sources that are secure, sustainable and cheaper in the long run.
Atmospheric carbon has reached 390 parts per million, which is well above the long-term average, and it is rapidly climbing. It is our choice. What kind of choice do you want your leaders to make?
Talk on climate change has been mostly that, just talk, but this year can be different. The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed a domestic climate bill, the Senate is considering climate legislation, and in December world leaders gather in Copenhagen to hammer out international agreements. What is needed most right now is action from concerned citizens pressuring their leaders to take action, not just talk.
Join me at 1 p.m. Saturday at Traverse City's Open Space as northwest Michigan joins the worldwide action to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide to 350 parts per million, the concentrations leading scientists agree we need to achieve. Learn more at TC350.org.
We'll later move on to the Opera House for letter writing and phone calling to U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow. Both are critical in upcoming decisions on legislation and international agreements. Take time now for the future's sake. Take action Oct. 24.
About the author: Michigan native Dave Barrons has lived in northwest Lower Michigan for more than 30 years and recently retired from television meteorology after 28 years. He has a master's degree in both political science and education. Barrons currently works as a private tutor and with his wife operates Grand Traverse Dyslexia Services and Tutoring.
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