A Good Planet Is Hard To Find

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by Pete Wood

Recently the Routt County Climate Action Plan organizers “revealed 41 actionable recommendations to help lower greenhouse gas emissions.”  This is a noble but misguided effort to “save the planet” from what many people have been led to believe is anthropogenic, or human caused, climate change.  That’s not to deny climate change is happening, but it is to say that our government leaders and mainstream media ignore key facts that must be considered about our approach to addressing climate change. 

First, there are countless factors that cause climate change and CO2 is but one.  Earth’s cloud composition, ocean currents, volcanic activity, magnetic field, and the sun’s radiation all have a greater effect on climate than CO2.  As a matter of fact, CO2 is but a trace chemical in Earth’s atmosphere.  Climate change adherents like to express increases in CO2 in the atmosphere in terms of tons instead of percentages.  This results in a distortion of the impact CO2 has on our atmosphere.  For example, the Earth’s atmosphere is estimated to weigh 5 quadrillion tons (5 followed by fifteen zeros).  Scientists estimate humans release about 30 billion tons of CO2 per year in the atmosphere.  That amounts to 0.00003 percent of change, hardly an amount worthy of great concern compared to larger, overlooked factors.

Additionally, CO2 is not the demon chemical that climate change adherents claim it is.  Remember, CO2 is plant food, and the world has become greener over the past two centuries coinciding with the Industrial Revolution.  A warmer climate and more plants create more food abundance and less famine. 

Second, these distortions and misinformation are propagated by the United Nation’s International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  Earth’s climate is one of the most complex and mysterious systems in nature due to the countless factors that are involved.  A single change in one factor will have an infinite number of possible outcomes that are unpredictable.  The mathematics involved in climate change is nonlinear and chaotic, yet the models IPCC scientists use for predicting climate change use linear calculations which cannot represent the true climate.  And, given the complexity of Earth’s climate, the notion that humans can affect climate change by ceasing the burning of hydrocarbons is absurd.

Third, the renewable solutions intended to mitigate climate change are a threat to our economy, environment, and human rights.  Wind and solar energy are much less efficient than fossil fuels.  Because the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine constantly, they rely on batteries to store their energy. Unfortunately, technology does not yet exist that can store industrial-level amounts of energy to power an entire city from batteries.  When wind and solar energy falters, hydrocarbon energy from coal, gas, or nuclear power plants is required to pick up the demand.  Therefore, we will continue to depend on fossil fuels or nuclear power indefinitely.

Another factor to consider about wind and solar is the environmental impact.  Industrial scale wind and solar facilities are a huge footprint on the landscape and encroach on many natural habitats and migratory paths.  Each year thousands of birds are killed by rotating wind turbines and extreme heat from solar farms. Many are large birds of prey which are slower to reproduce and more at risk of endangerment.  By comparison, an oil derrick has a much smaller footprint having less impact on natural habitats while also producing more energy on a consistent basis than wind or solar.

Wind and solar technology and the batteries required to store their energy require rare earth minerals like cobalt, lithium, and dysprosium that must be mined from countries with sensitive habitats and endangered animals.  Many of these countries have poor human rights records and use child labor with poor working conditions.  Currently, the Chinese Communist Party owns much of the world’s rare earth mining operations.  So, what’s most concerning is the demand for this mining will multiply dozens of times given government pressure to switch to renewable energy. 

Fourth, China is not held accountable for adhering to climate policies in Paris Climate Accords. Between 2015 and 2021 China’s CO2 emissions increased by 11%, according to the Climate Action Tracker. Over that same period, the U.S. decreased CO2 emissions by 6%, largely due to our switch from coal to natural gas.  As a matter of fact, China has no intention of addressing climate change.  The country is reported to have over 300 new coal-fired power plants planned, under construction, or about to come online over the next year.  China’s President Xi recently said their approach for achieving climate goals “must be determined by ourselves, and never under the sway of others”.

Considering 80% of global energy remains produced by hydrocarbon fuels and the demand for energy is expected to increase by 54% by 2050, we must be honest with ourselves about Earth’s climate and how we produce our energy.  It is critical that we explore solutions that are economically sustainable, equitable, environmentally balanced, and fact-based.  Current climate action policy is none of these. 

by Rachael Jacobson

I could feel the excitement in the air as my family and I embarked on our fishing trip at Hahns Peak Lake on July 4th, 2023.  The day held the promise of cherished memories, laughter, and the serene beauty of nature. Little did we know that the tranquility would be shattered by a furious storm, testing our resilience and teaching us valuable lessons about the importance of forest maintenance.

My husband, two teenage daughters, two young boys, and I were joined by my little sister and her husband, along with their two young children who were visiting from Texas.  We set up our fishing gear and hammocks near the shimmering waters, basking in the warm embrace of the sun.  It was the perfect start to a memorable day fishing in North Routt.

We were casting lines and enjoyed the soothing rhythm of nature for nearly two hours when a sudden change in the sky caught our attention.  Storm clouds were moving in a rapid pace.  Instinctively, we packed up our belongings with a newfound urgency, moving with a speed I didn't know we possessed.  Adrenaline surged through my veins as I assisted my family in gathering our equipment.  I had never seen us pack up so fast.

With our gear secured, we began our journey back to the trail.  But just as we started walking, an eerie shift in the atmosphere caused the wind to pick up.  The air crackled with tension, and the once sturdy but dead pine trees around us became instruments of imminent danger.  They began toppling down one after another, crashing to the ground perilously close to our path.

The hiking trail that encircled Hahns Peak Lake provided us with limited options.  We were faced with a difficult choice: either brave the treacherous forest or jump into the chilling waters.  Without hesitation, I took the lead, my heart pounding in my chest. I reached out and clutched the trembling hand of my 6-year-old niece, who was overwhelmed by fear.

The wind howled mercilessly, and I couldn't help but glance up and around, constantly checking for looming threats.  We pushed forward fearing what would happen if we stopped while trying to soothe our hysterical little ones, while trees crashed down around us.  They fell in front of us, to our right, and behind us, as if nature itself was unleashing its fury upon us.  The four younger kids were inconsolable, their cries of distress melding with the noise of the storm.

Finally, we managed to escape the dangerous clearing nearing the bridge, only to be met with a new assault from above.  Hailstones.  They began cascaded from the sky, growing in size with each passing moment. Seeking refuge, we huddled under the protective branches of a healthy pine tree, praying for relief from the relentless assault.  The ground transformed before our eyes, the once lush green landscape turning into a blanket of pure white, resembling a sudden and unexpected snowstorm.

After what felt like an eternity, the hailstorm subsided enough to provide us with a brief window of opportunity.  We sprinted towards our vehicles, our bodies pelted by hailstones, our breaths ragged with exhaustion and relief.  The hail-covered vehicles provided temporary shelter, shielding us from the lingering remnants of the storm.

Once inside the car, we paused to assess our bodies.  The adrenaline that had fueled our survival began to fade, allowing us to feel the physical toll the storm had taken on us.  Welts, cuts, and stinging sensations from the hail served as reminders of our harrowing encounter with nature's wrath.

As we drove home, the silence within the car was broken by the sound of collective exhales, mingled with sighs of relief.  With the adrenaline wearing off, the adults began to reflect on the incident.  We commended the bravery and composure displayed by our teenagers, marveling at how they managed to keep their cool amidst the chaos.  It was undoubtedly one of the scariest moments of our lives in the embrace of nature's unpredictable forces.

As we shared our experiences, the conversation naturally veered towards the importance of forest maintenance.  We acknowledged the significance of removing dead standing timber to prevent such incidents from occurring in the first place.  The storm had revealed the dangers of neglected forests, where dead trees become ticking time bombs, threatening the lives of unsuspecting adventurers.

We counted ourselves fortunate, realizing that we had narrowly escaped potential disaster.  We marveled at how no tree had fallen directly onto us, sparing us from severe injuries or worse.  The incident left a lasting mark on us, reinforcing our gratitude for the fragility of life and the need to cherish and protect the natural world.

As we settled into the safety of our homes, we couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of responsibility towards the environment.  The storm at Hahns Peak Lake had taught us a valuable lesson about the delicate balance between nature's beauty and its immense power.  We discussed the need to spread awareness about the importance of forest maintenance, advocating for the removal of dead trees and the preservation of our natural habitats.

The memory of this fateful July 4th fishing trip would forever serve as a reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the fortitude required to face nature's fury.  We emerged from the experience with a profound appreciation for life's fragility and a determination to safeguard our natural treasures for generations to come.