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Show Viewpoints The A-13 Park Record. Wed/Thurs/Fri, June 20-22, 2018 editorial With threat of wildfire looming, holiday fun can go up in flames T guest editorial The new normal? There is no such thing regarding climate PEPPER TRAIL Writers on the Range Ah, “the new normal” — how many times have you heard those words in the past few years? Endless security lines at airports? Bitter partisan politics? Working multiple jobs with no benefits? All of these are “the new normal.” Nowhere is this phrase more overworked than in relation to climate change. We hear it applied to everything from the rising frequency of high-tide flooding in Florida to Western summers full of wildfire smoke. It’s a phrase I hate. It’s the linguistic equivalent of a shrug, merely another way of saying, “Whaddaya gonna do?” In the context of politics and economics, it implies that “the new normal” is a done deal, and there’s no point doing anything but accepting that fact. But in the context of climate change, the phrase “the new normal” is even more insidious — and dangerous. It suggests that the Earth has arrived at a new equilibrium, which is how things will be from now on. In fact, there is nothing normal — new or otherwise — about the world’s climate situation. In truth, the only honest way to describe our climate crisis is “the no normal.” According to the latest data from the United Nation’s World Meteorological Organization, atmospheric CO2 now exceeds 403 parts per million (ppm). The report concludes: “Geological records show that the current levels of CO2 correspond to an ‘equilibrium’ climate last observed in the mid-Pliocene (3–5 million years ago), a climate that was 2–3 degrees Celsius warmer, where the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets melted … leading to sea levels that were 10–20 m (32-64 feet) higher than those today.” To put this into perspective, our human species has never experienced CO2 levels this high in our entire evolutionary history, which is a mere 300,000 years or so. All of our assumptions about how the planet works are based on an atmosphere that no longer exists. And the really scary thing is that CO2 levels are nowhere close to reaching a new equilibrium. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that unless truly dramatic reductions are made, atmospheric CO2 will reach about 700 ppm by 2080, with temperature increases of more than 3 degrees Celsius. The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER ....................... Andy Bernhard Editor ................................... Bubba Brown Staff Writers ......................Jay Hamburger Scott Iwasaki Angelique McNaughton Ben Ramsey Carolyn Webber Contributing ............................. Tom Clyde Writers Jay Meehan Teri Orr Amy Roberts Tom Kelly Joe Lair Copy Editor ............................ James Hoyt Engagement Editor.........Kira Hoffelmeyer Photographer .........................Tanzi Propst Office Manager ..................... Tiffany Piper Circulation Manager ............. Lacy Brundy Accounting Manager ......... Jennifer Snow ADVERTISING Classifieds/Legals ............. Jennifer Lynch Advertising Director ........... Valerie Spung Advertising Sales ................... Jodi Hecker Erin Donnelly Chris Roberts Sharon Bush Lindsay Lane Production Director ..................Ben Olson Production .......................... Patrick Schulz Even with zero emissions, getting back to what we might consider “normal” — the pre-industrial levels of 280 ppm — is “sort of a 10,000-year proposition,” according to Ralph Keeling, director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s CO2 Program. And because of the enormous inertia of the planetary-scale changes that are underway, atmospheric equilibrium (when CO2 levels stabilize), geophysical equilibrium (e.g., sea levels, air and sea temperatures), and ecological equilibrium (when species are in stable new distributions) will all happen at different times. We probably have no idea what an ecological “new normal” might resemble. There is no reason to believe that different species of plants and animals will respond in a coordinated fashion to climate change. Researchers attempting to predict future ecological communities have concluded that “by 2070, over half of California could be occupied by novel assemblages of bird species, implying the potential for dramatic community reshuffling and altered patterns of species interactions.” Ecologists have taken to calling this “the no-analog future,” because we simply have no idea how climate change will reorganize the ecological world. And that has drastic implications for agriculture, forestry and the distribution of diseases. So, where does this leave us? When facing something with truly dire consequences — and climate change definitely qualifies — the only responsible course of action is to take a hard look at worstcase scenarios. Then, even if we’re not ready to take the radical action that would be required if the worst really happens, at least we can act to preserve our options. For example, the 30-foot rise in sea level that prevailed the last time atmospheric CO2 was as high as it is today would drown New Orleans, Houston and all the coastal cities of Florida. No one is ready to contemplate abandoning those cities — at least not yet. But we can, and should, do everything we can to avoid making the situation worse. For example, we could start enacting strict coastal development ordinances and no long offer government-subsidized flood insurance in low-lying coastal zones. Here in the West, we can respond to the predicted drastic increase in wildfires by adopting policies that limit further development in the “wildland-urban interface.” Such developments will require huge expenditures to defend from fire, and they will likely ultimately burn no matter what we do. As individuals and as a species, our normal reaction to radical uncertainty is to deny it. We make our best guess about the future — often heavily colored by wishful thinking — and muddle through. That’s understandable, but these are not normal times, and acting as if they are could be our undoing. Uncomfortable? You should be. Welcome to the no normal! Letters Policy The Park Record welcomes letters to the editor on any subject. We ask that the letters adhere to the following guidelines. They must include the home (street) address and telephone number of the author. No letter will be published under an assumed name. Letters must not contain libelous material. Letters should be no longer than about 300 words (about 600 words for guest editorials) and should, if possible, be typed. We reserve the right to edit letters if they are too long or if they contain statements that are unnecessarily offensive or obscene. Writers are limited to one letter every seven days. Letters thanking event sponsors can list no more than 6 individuals and/or businesses. Send your letter to: editor@parkrecord.com he Fourth of July is still two weeks away, but a few Parkites have apparently begun the festivities early. The Park City Police Department earlier in the week received a series of reports of people lighting off fireworks in Prospector. Beyond being a nuisance to neighbors and skirting Utah law that says residents can only discharge fireworks in July on certain days surrounding the Independence Day and Pioneer Day holidays, lighting fireworks in Park City right now is simply irresponsible. Wildfire conditions are worsening as the vegetation that grew as a result of an early snow melt this spring dries out. The situation is severe enough that Park City officials are preparing a ban on fireworks this summer. And while Summit County officials say a countywide ban is not likely for the Fourth of July, they urge residents to use extra caution. Abiding by the prohibition in Park City and taking extra precautions elsewhere in Summit County — for starters, waiting until July 2, the first day lighting fireworks is legal — will be critical. Wildfire season has just begun, but there are already indications that we could be in for a dangerous stretch through the end of summer. Firefighters have had to extinguish a pair of small blazes in eastern Summit County, and larger ones have developed in other parts of the state, including a human-caused fire that destroyed eight homes in Moab. Gathering in the driveway at dusk to light off fireworks is a treasured part of the Fourth of July and Pioneer Day fun. The smell alone is enough to elicit a wave of nostalgia. But celebration can quickly turn catastrophic. And all it takes is one errant spark. For a reminder of the devastation wildfires can cause, Summit County residents only have to look back to 2013. That summer, a blaze caused by lightning charred roughly 2,000 acres, destroying eight homes and more than a dozen other buildings and vehicles. It was fortunate that no one was hurt. Officials have long feared that a similarly sized blaze in a more densely populated area, such as Park City’s Old Town, would be dramatically worse. Given that risk, ignoring the impending fireworks ban in Park City would be unacceptable. And in the rest of the county, people are better off stowing their fireworks for next year if they have even the slightest hesitation about the wildfire danger. Even if residents don’t light their own pyrotechnics, they’ll be able to get their fill at professional displays, such as the ones scheduled at Park City Mountain Resort on July 3 and 4. And by avoiding the wildfire risk, they’ll have one more reason to celebrate. For more information about fireworks laws and safety, visit https://firemarshal.utah.gov/department-services/fireworks/. letters to the editor Hope Alliance relies on Parkites’ support Editor: Just a quick shout out from The Hope Alliance to all those who made last Friday’s “Night Vision” fund raiser a rousing success. From our founders and friends to our loyal family of supporters, you have made THA successful and sustainable in our mission to sponsor international, regional and local vision clinics as well as our ongoing relief efforts in Haiti led by Kym Meehan. Special thanks to our hosts Dell and Laine Fuller and all of our volunteers and vendors who supplied the inspiration for this fun evening. Thanks also to the generous souls of Park City who could not attend this event but sent their contributions anyhow. Your unflagging generosity assures the continuation of our efforts in the service of the needy and the betterment of the old Park City spirit of giving. Matt Lindon The Hope Alliance board Latino Arts Festival a success once again Editor: “With the goal of offering an event that our whole community could enjoy through celebrating Arts and Culture, the Latino Arts Festival succeeded! Thank you so much to the Park City community for your support and enthusiasm! The weather was nearly perfect both days of this event, where we enjoyed Food, Art, Music, Dance and Kids Activities. Ranging from traditional Chilean music, to folklore music from the Andes Mountains, as well as tropical Caribbean to a traditional Mexican Mariachi band, the music was fantastic. We also enjoyed colorful dancing from Mexico, Spain, Peru, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Argentina. Finally, thanks to Sundance Institute, we were able to experience a film screening of the powerful film “Dolores”, a documentary about Dolores Huerta, a civil rights activist. For those interested in Art, the Kimball Arts Center, another great partner with us for this event, is hosting a special exhibition presenting the work of nine Latino artists living in Utah. From painting and photography to sculpture and installation, this exhibition is running now until July 8th.” Rob Harter Christian Center of Park City executive director Cancer survivors feel at home in Park City Editor: Love was abound this June when the owner of the Grand Love Shack, Jeff Love, donated his beautiful home to Image Reborn Foundation so that 14 breast cancer survivors could enjoy a free weekend retreat filled with relaxation, pampering ... and LOVE! The Grand Love Shack, located just west of Main Street, is the largest slopeside home in the National District of Park City and is lovely and accommodating in every way. Jeff Love donates his amazing home to Image Reborn Foundation for three different weekends a year and has been doing so for several years. Image Reborn Foundation is a local non-profit organization that provides free healing retreats in Park City to any woman who has ever been diagnosed with breast cancer. Each month breast cancer survivors from Utah and all over the country can relax and enjoy each other’s company in the lovely atmosphere of Park City homes and hotels. Image Reborn’s success in serving over 3,000 breast cancer survivors since its inception in 1998 is due to the kindness of Park City residents such as Jeff Love. We are indebted to Jeff and others who have offered up their homes so that women who have battled the ravages of breast cancer can be pampered and loved during a free weekend in beautiful Park City. If you are interested in donating your home, please contact Ally with Image Reborn Foundation at (801) 679-3065. Faye Keller Image Reborn Foundation guest editorial Solar energy deserves place on public lands ROSE MCKINNEY-JAMES Writers on the Range When the Trump administration initiated an “energy dominance” agenda one year ago, it did so under the premise that removing barriers to oil and gas development on public lands would “bring true prosperity and wealth to our people.” It was an empty promise. In reality, this approach opened the doors to increased pollution, greater restrictions on access to public lands and damage to vital wildlife habitat. What benefited was the bottom line of a few private oil and gas companies. The emphasis on developing oil and gas on public lands also reduced opportunities for developing clean energy resources. As a former commissioner with the Nevada Public Utility Commission, I’ve seen the success that happens when there’s collaborative development of renewable energy on public lands. Here in Nevada, the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone outside of Las Vegas is now home to 179 megawatts of solar projects on public lands, with more on the way, thanks to the leadership of the Bureau of Land Management, former Nevada Democratic Sen. Harry Reid, developers like First Solar and Invenergy, and conservation groups that saw the twin needs to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and protect public lands. Utility-scale solar projects are big — the two projects in the Dry Lake zone cover the equivalent of 1,360 NFL football fields — so finding the right places for them is important. To do that, the BLM collaborates with regulators, developers and other stakeholders, looking for lower-conflict areas that are near existing roads and transmission lines. The Dry Lake zone, for example, is surrounded by multiple transmission lines, several solar and natural gas power plants, mining operations, a landfill, several major highways and a railroad. So far, there are 19 solar-energy zones in six Southwestern states that, together with other designated renewable energy zones, encompass 700,000 acres. To date, the Dry Lake solar projects have created 1,300 jobs and produced enough clean energy to meet the consumption needs of 46,000 homes; that much energy is equivalent to the emissions you’d save if you took nearly 52,000 cars off the road. In Nevada, the BLM is now looking to expand this solar zone and identify others in the southern part of the state, giving residents hope that this kind of smart planning for renewables will continue despite the Trump administration’s desire to cut the agency’s budget for renewable energy in half. When it comes to oil and gas development, however, the administration is moving away from collaborative processes that allow for public involvement. Though the oil and gas industry is already sitting on nearly 8,000 unused drilling permits, tying up 14 million acres that would otherwise be available for multiple uses, the administration has attempted to allow private oil and gas companies to develop an additional 11.6 million acres of public lands. Some are close to national parks and within sensitive wildlife habitats and culturally significant landscapes. Furthermore, in removing critical land-use planning regulations and cutting the public out of the decision-making process, the administration is ignoring its obligation to operate with transparency and promote balanced management of public lands. To be clear, I am not suggesting we eliminate oil and gas development. This is about ensuring the smart and inclusive decision-making we expect when it comes to major changes on our public lands. Elevating fossil-fuel development on public lands above any other activity hinders the significant progress we’ve made in improving air and water quality, and it significantly contributes to the greenhouse gases already warming our planet. The United States has it backwards these days when it fails to focus on renewable energy development. Despite the administration’s efforts to cut renewable funding in half and prioritize special interests, the market tells all. Demand for fossil fuels continues to decline, while renewable energy production is climbing. Job growth in the clean energy industry is at a record high, with solar jobs now outnumbering jobs in natural gas. That is why I recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to join a diverse panel of Westerners who asked Congress to restore public involvement in the decision-making process for energy development on public lands. This administration needs to involve the public more, not less, ensuring that local communities and constituencies are consulted and engaged early in the process. And it needs to increase transparency and accountability. Public lands are owned by all Americans and should benefit all of us — not just a handful of special interests. Let’s put the “public” back in public lands. |