Our Backyard. Our Home. Our Planet.
Stuck at home this holiday with the double whammy of COVID and a recent back injury, I had nothing but time to watch Ted Lasso, Succession, Don’t Look Up and the unbelievably terrifying “reality” show that unfolded just northeast of my home - the Marshall Fire - the horrific grassfire in Louisville, Superior and Boulder that destroyed nearly a thousand homes and disrupted the lives of so many.
This didn’t just hit close to home. This is home. I went to school at the University of Colorado in Boulder, worked in Superior and have numerous friends in Rock Creek and Louisville neighborhoods. These are classic modern suburban communities with good schools, local shopping, and lots of open space to explore. A place you could easily call home. In fact, Louisville has frequently been touted as one of the best places to live in Colorado and in the country.
On New Year’s Eve Day, it all changed when a modern inferno broke out. Though it might have looked like a science fiction film or summer blockbuster on the national news, it was our worst climate change reality. It is both ironic and sad that some of the nation's leading climate and wildfire scientists at the National Atmospheric Research Center and the University of Colorado live in these communities.
What can we do?
In 2019, UN President María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés warned we only had 11-years left to prevent irreversible climate change, sharing that “we are the last generation that can prevent irreparable damage to our planet.” She wasn’t wrong. To eliminate this threat, we must act now.
There is no silver bullet. To have a true impact, we must all take action. Changes need to be big and small, local and national, and we must make serious changes to our lives. Changes based on science, and that will not only lead to improving our planet’s climate stability, but will also drive innovation, job creation, and future industries.
Doing things differently in terms of how we think about home energy, transportation, food, appliances, building systems and travel are easy compared to seeing our neighborhoods burn or our friends losing everything they have. Devastating wildfires in mountain forests are harmful, but out of control suburban fires fueled by a 7-month drought and 110-mph hurricane force winds are not manageable.
Helping Our Friends and Neighbors.
First, let's help our neighbors and show Colorado is Strong. Below are some amazing and passionate organizations working tirelessly to support those left homeless by the Marshall Fire. If you are able to give, please give generously to help these families rebuild:
The Community Foundation Boulder County Wildfire Fund
Making Real Change.
Next, consider the immediate impact you can make. Think about your next car purchase - go electric. Think about your next appliance, go electric. Think about adding solar to your home or business. Think about supporting candidates and parties that talk (and act) seriously about climate change and the science behind it. Think about your food choices, travel choices and embrace “reduce, reuse, recycle”. Talk to your kids about their future and even reach out to your stubborn neighbor or crazy uncle. Embrace the science and take steps in your personal and business life to make real change now. Remember the clock is ticking. It’s 2022, we now only have seven years.
Raise Your Voice.
We must urge our local governments to power schools, rec centers and municipal buildings with clean, renewable energy. We must demand that our local utilities adopt game changing resources and practices faster. If you work for a big or small company, talk about how to power your business with solar and storage. If your business needs new vehicles, don’t replace them with an internal combustion engine fleet. If you eat meat everyday, consider the high carbon and methane impact of beef and chicken production. Read books by scientists and professionals. Support businesses, elected officials and entertainment folks with your dollars, votes, and ticket sales or downloads. Your life, your homes, and your kids' future literally are in the balance.
On the Fence Still?
Take an evening and watch the Netflix movie Don’t Look Up, a powerful parody of how many have acted about climate change and the inevitable result. The film is sadly spot on with well known Hollywood actors demonstrating the remarkable shortsighted stupidity of our elected leaders over the last generation. In the real world, only a few leaders have had courage to call for and make real and dramatic change.
The Marshall Fire will go down as the most costly wildfire in Colorado history - estimated at well over a billion dollars and they are estimating with the current supply chain challenges, it could be up to two or three years before the families are back in their homes.
Mother Nature is giving us a painful and alarming wake up call. Let’s make 2022, the year we listened, embraced change and turned the tide for our planet and all of our futures because as I am sure anyone in Superior and Louisville can tell you, there is no place like home.
J.W. Postal
