It's been one of those weeks where climate justice activists, practitioners, and worriers alike lie awake at night agonizing about both the world at large and climate change. Many wonder when, and if, the rest of the world will actually ‘wake up’ to act. The loop of questions in my mind goes something like this: ‘Is it morally justifiable to ignore climate change when our children will inherit a much harsher planet?’, ‘why aren’t we deploying solutions as rapidly as humanly possible?’  and, ‘what can I do now, tomorrow, this week, this month to instigate systems change?’

Eventually, the sky brightens, the birds sing their daybreak songs, and my girls (oh, sigh, and our puppy) jump on me; it’s my morning dose of joy and relief.

But what keeps tormenting me are the findings in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. This is the sixth report since 1990, authored by more than 200 scientists across the world, and based on more than 14,000 individual studies. It's the most comprehensive review of climate science and climate impacts.  

Here are some key takeaways (spoiler alert: the first four are downers):

• There is ‘unequivocal’ scientific evidence that climate change is a threat to the health of our planet and to human wellbeing;
• Climate change is causing dangerous disruption to our ecosystems and this is affecting billions of people around the world;  
• As we have seen right here in Boulder County, there are profound human, ecological and economic costs that we are already paying for — the climate driven firestorms, heat waves, droughts, and floods are expected to worsen; 
• Climate change is the ultimate justice issue: Rich countries have been dumping their carbon waste into the atmosphere and the subsequent impacts are hitting the poorest nations the hardest. It's an egregious inequity. Additionally, the emissions generated during my lifetime will greatly impact our children’s lives and their ability to thrive. This is a disheartening generational injustice;   
• All climate actors, including local governments, must now invest in and adopt CO₂ removal strategies, in addition to existing emission reduction actions in order to align goals with the stark scientific realities of the climate crisis;
• The good news. We know what we need to do:
• Rapidly replace coal, oil, and gas with clean energy for electricity, transportation, industry, and buildings; 
• Appreciate the true value of our natural systems as climate solutions.  Protecting, restoring, and regenerating our ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, and soils will safeguard us against the worst climate impacts and absorb carbon dioxide; 
• Take climate change adaptation seriously to withstand the impacts we are currently experiencing.

Many solutions are well-known, feasible, and already in motion. And even better, these solutions provide additional social and environmental gains beyond their positive climate benefits; less air pollution, clean water, shade, and nutritious food.  

I wrote in a recent op-ed that here in Boulder County we are doing everything in our power to reverse the trajectory of this climate crisis: from leading statewide policy efforts, managing longstanding energy efficiency programs, and supporting carbon drawdown efforts, to a potentially precedent-setting lawsuit against fossil fuel giants to pay their fair share of the costs associated with climate change impacts.

Local governments like Boulder County can lead the way in our communities, but we cannot do it alone. We need systems change across all sectors at state, federal, and international levels to prevent the worst trajectories of the climate crisis.

The new IPCC report is yet again informing us that we are ruining our planet; hurting each other and our children in the process. We need all of us working together to collectively and systemically fight this crisis right now. If we wake up, we'll be able to sleep better through the night.

— Susie

As our community rebuilds, we have the opportunity to build back better. The Marshall Fire Resilient Rebuild Assistance Fund will help impacted homeowners construct high performance homes that use less energy, have lower utility bills, are more resilient to future disasters, and produce lower climate emissions.

Learn more and make a donation here.

Join Zero Foodprint (James Beard Humanitarian of the Year) and visiting chef/restaurateur Anthony Myint (Mission Street Food, Mission Chinese Food, The Perennial) as well as Chef Daniel Asher (River & Woods, Ash'Kara) for a unique and restorative lunch featuring Subway's menu + chef "power-ups."

Myint will be serving a Tingling Dip with Sichuan Hot Pot Broth and chili crisp. Daniel's chef power-up will be announced via Zero Foodprint's Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Each sandwich will be served with a side of regenerative agriculture as Boulder Subway restaurants are helping lead Restore Colorado, a program where participating food businesses send a portion of proceeds to Colorado farmers to apply compost, plant cover crops, and restore the climate by building healthy soil.

Where: Subway, 2480 Baseline Road, Boulder, CO

When: March 11, 2022

Time: 12 - 1 p.m.