The recently declared “War on the EPA” and particularly carbon emission controls by Senate Leader Mitch McConnell and fellow Republicans is in my opinion badly construed. It is one thing to enhance capitalism by externalizing environmental costs; it is another thing when such behavior threatens global food supplies, water and people’s ability to grow food.
With a few exceptions, climate change scientists around the world concur that atmospheric pollutants plus the burning of fossil fuels, is having a major impact on global climate. Carbon dioxide levels are higher than at any time in recorded history. We’re seeing increases in sea levels and global temperatures, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of weather shifts. In 2014, we saw the devastation of one of our country’s most important fruit and vegetable growing areas in central California due to recent drought. As is, our food crops have not evolved to withstand major shifts in weather patterns within short time periods. In western Montana, we just experienced record setting heat in August, and sub-zero temperatures in early November. The latter weather shift by itself is not unusual for Montana, but all of these things taken together are unusual.
When certain political ideologies, i.e. Republicanism, ignore the evidence in front of their noses and continue to promote policies that exacerbate climate change, thus threatening world food supply, it becomes a moral issue. Renewed attacks by Sen.-elect Steve Daines, Rep,-elect Zinke, and state Republicans on the EPA and state environmental regulations, thus allowing more pollution, is straight out of the Republican playbook. Freedom to make profit or create jobs does not give one the freedom to pollute another’s air, land and water, be it in this country or around the world.
Kirwin Werner
Ronan