OPINION: Hotter climate is price of carbon

Summer in Northwest Montana is off without a bang thanks to one of the earliest hot, dry seasons on record. Unfortunately, it seems this is the new normal. The 10 warmest years on record globally have occurred since 1998, and 2014 broke the global record for warmest year in recorded history. As 2015 now appears destined to break that record, it seems certain that people’s awareness of climate change will continue to grow.

Hopefully, everyone reading this will recognize that the science is clear about the significant contribution of human activity to the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and as a result, the warming of our planet and the acidification of our oceans. By burning fossil fuels, we’ve increased CO2 levels higher than they’ve been for at least 4 million years.

Given our situation, I encourage everyone to consider ways that they might curb their own carbon footprint. Small changes when made by thousands can have significant effects.

I would also like to encourage individuals to consider purchasing carbon offsets. Organizations such as Terrapass or Native Energy offer easy carbon calculators on their websites and make the process simple. The average American can offset their carbon for about $20 a month. The money goes towards sustainable energy projects, methane recapture projects, reforestation projects, and clean water projects around the world.

Lastly, I would encourage everyone to contact our Montana congressmen and legislators and ask them to support renewable energy so that we can kick our carbon habit. Climate solutions should be the “space race” of this decade. The price of continuing to increase carbon levels in our atmosphere is simply too great. —Melissa Hartman, Whitefish