By: Tracey MacDermott NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee  Chair (2024-2026) 

Like A Hurricane 

Climate News Is Scary. But We Can Still Control Which Way the Wind Blows 

By Tracey MacDermott 

This opinion piece was originally published in The Greater Park Hill News, where the author is a monthly columnist.  Previous columns can be found here: http://greaterparkhill.org/?s=tracey+macdermott 

Last month many news organizations — from The Guardian, Euronews and National Public Radio — all reported on  differing climate stories. None of it was uplifting.  

While hurricane Beryl was pummeling Texas, Mother Earth set on fire heat records and President Biden blasted  lawmakers for climate change denial.  

It may be no surprise to you that June was blazing hot across the nation. Here in Denver many of us were wondering  if this was the hottest June we could remember (it is). This of us who were lucky had access to air-conditioned spaces.  If you like to conserve energy by opening windows versus running your AC, this summer’s heat made that nearly  impossible.  

Worse, those without AC or a cooling system are stuck in dangerous, life-threatening heat. As we know, the climate  crisis doesn’t impact us all the same. Multiple news agencies this summer reported that Black residents in New York  City die from heat stress at double the rate of white residents. That is horrific, and unacceptable. 

In Denver, the mean temperature in June was 6 degrees above normal. You read that right, 6 degrees! In fact,  globally, June was the 13th straight month of record-warming temperatures and the 12th straight month we stayed  more than 1.5 degrees Celsius hotter than pre-industrial times. We are getting closer to the limit that was set forth  in the Paris Agreement to avoid catastrophic outcomes. We are crossing into dangerous territory.  

Scientists were not surprised by the broken records, but startled by how much Earth blew past those records. While  June was scorching hot for most of the US, Hurricane Beryl was gaining strength. It was the strongest hurricane  recorded in the Atlantic so early in the season. The burning of fossil fuels continues to drive up ocean temperatures  intensifying the number and severity of storms.  

Also last month, a study published in Nature Communications, reported that 50,000 gallons of water everyday are  melting away in the Juneau Icefield. Due to shorter winters and longer summers the ice field is retreating 4.6 times  faster than in the 1990s. Other devastating projections show that even if we can keep global temperatures to 1.5  degrees Celsius, we will still lose about half of the world’s glaciers by the end of the century.  

However, keeping to the goals from the Paris Agreement will help mitigate sharp sea level rise from melting glaciers  and give our next generations a chance. So, we must do our part right now. We cannot languish in hopelessness, as  not all hope is lost.  

We are the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Yet the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act has the potential  to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions nearly in half by 2035. Are you able to tap into some of the city, state and  national rebates to switch from air conditioners to heat pumps or geothermal? If this is beyond your reach, simple  lifestyle changes add up and can be impactful.  

Talk with your family and friends who may not fully understand what is at stake. Each of us can do our part. The  collection of our small actions can help change our trajectory. 

You know what else is incredibly impactful and simple? VOTING. This year is a critical national election year, and  climate will be on the ballot in a big way. Climate policy in the U.S. impacts and influences the rest of the world. We  must elect leaders who take that role seriously.