In the last several years, Colorado has experienced repeated natural disasters: the two most destructive wildfires in state history and a devastating flood. Locally, in the last month, we had an extreme rain event that produced more than two inches of rain in a few hours – more than we receive in most months. Projections of global climate disruption from ever-increasing concentrations of heat-trapping gases in our atmosphere indicate that such events will become increasingly common in the coming decades. They already extract an economic toll, and without preventive action, the burden will just keep growing in the coming years. A recent report – criticized in a leading economic journal as being too optimistic – concluded that the cost of mitigation efforts grows by 40 percent if it is delayed by 10 years. Further, the economic losses from climate disruption increase by about 1 percent of GDP for each degree centigrade above the target of 2C degrees.

Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists concur that human activity underlies climate change. The Republican Party remains in denial, and the resulting inaction in Congress threatens our long-term future. We cannot change the whole Congress, but we can elect Udall and Tapia to ensure that our representatives support a rational climate and energy policy.

During Hickenlooper’s administration, Colorado has updated its greenhouse gas emissions inventory, developed the first regulations of methane emissions from natural gas production, updated the Climate Change in Colorado report and developed a new climate-change vulnerability assessment. If you are concerned about Hickenlooper’s attempt to seek a politically balanced approach to fossil-fuel resources, please do not make the mistake of supposing his opponent – who denies human contribution to climate change – will be sympathetic to climate action.

If you care about the future of the planet, join me in voting for Udall, Tapia and Hickenlooper. And continue down the ballot to vote for all the excellent progressive candidates on the Democratic ticket.

Richard E. White

Durango