Rises in atmospheric CO2 seem to have often played a significant role in many of these events. The changes to life and the environment brought on by these episodes were extremely slow, but they were dramatic. While many species went extinct, those best adapted to these changes survived to repopulate the Earth. Whether significant climate change lies ahead for us is not a decision that can be made by politicians, letter writers or TV personalities. It is not subject to polls or a vote. Obama can’t make it happen, and Fox News can’t make it go away. It is either happening, or it isn’t. Our only real choice is how we, the entire population of the Earth, choose to respond. It would be quite convenient if climate change did not exist. But if, as the scientific evidence suggests, climate change does exist, then we need to prepare ourselves for the changes ahead. Or I suppose we could just do nothing and see what happens. Good luck with that.

Donn Hicks

Durango