We can all google answers to justify our positions, that’s the internet’s greatest disservice to humanity. And I certainly include myself, it’s clear none of us are changing others’ minds. I’d still enjoy sharing a coffee with all but one or two in this argument, many very good friends hold very different positions than I do. Unfortunately a couple have said go to school to learn about this, I did for four years, almost 20 years ago. Things haven’t improved in that time.
I’ll say from my personal observations fire fighting has become nearly my entire living, I’ve never been busier, and I’d never flown in 49.7C until 2021. I’ve also never started a season earlier than this one, and I fought fire into November last year which is unheard of. The best indicator of warming is ocean temps as it’s the largest heat sink on the planet, they’re rising with no debate, we have satellites for that and a dearth of data. People say a half a degree or a degree is nothing, when they have no concept of how much energy it takes to achieve that. That’s more energy than 5 nuclear weapons per second to achieve the rate of warming we’re managing.
Glaciers and the rate of recession also indicate well the rate change is occurring, all easily visible to citizens. Static and many growing prior to 1900, massive recessions since mid 20th century. See the Columbia Icefield, which I flew over on my way to fires at the beginning of the month, receded enormous distances in the last 20 years leaving a giant empty trough to show it, it’s now a long hike from the parking lot to the ice when it was right there as a kid. Same for Stewart BC, have watched that too. Saw it in the Andes too as mentioned.
The debate shouldn’t be if it’s happening, it should be how much it matters. As time goes on it’s becoming more and more undeniable as fire seasons expand and heat records are broken, and glaciers disappear. I remain more concerned with conservation of wilderness, as I see climate change as a runaway train which we have little control over as a country of 40 million. The best angle is to preserve wild habitat, as that is achievable. That’s all 30x30 is, 30% of wild land protected and left as such by 2030. That benefits hunters, and humanity. It’s not some haywire conspiracy theory tied into Q bull####.
