Let climate change unify, not divide | News, Sports, Jobs - Escanaba Daily Press

Let climate change unify, not divide | News, Sports, Jobs - Daily Press

Let climate change unify, not divide

Politics in recent days has shown a distinct distaste for those who put problem-solving before dogma.

Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted by all Democrats and eight members of his own party after he moved to avoid a government shutdown. Closer to home, a Grand Traverse County election canvasser appointment got more complicated as a party put forth nominees who voiced election-fraud conspiracies.

But there was an overlap of sorts last month at a meeting of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture in Michigan’s capitol.

Outside Michigan’s Legislature, demonstrators marched for a carbon-free future — while inside, hunting, fishing and conservation groups asked for more aggressive measures to address a warming climate.

Bridge Michigan reporting last month set the scene and, while the two groups could probably find something to argue about, both care about the state of the planet, and how a warming climate impacts our state.

The Changing Seasons workgroup — made up of Michigan United Conservation Clubs, National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Michigan Steelhead and Salmon Fishermen’s Association, Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Ruffed Grouse Society, Safari Club — urged legislators to create effective policies to tackle native trout trouble caused by warming waters, die-offs of native trees from heat stress and insects, and the changing animal migration patterns impacted by climate.

“We are the eyes and ears in the field; we see the devastation warming streams and more volatile weather events cause,” said MUCC CEO Amy Trotter.

Removing hydroelectric dams can cool rivers, and wind turbines and solar arrays should be sited to avoid conflicts with hunting and fishing recreation, the group said. They stopped short of supporting more than “the spirit” of the protesters outside, and didn’t want to “get into the weeds” of clean energy discussions.

Can you imagine if those who want to address the root causes of climate change and those who want to address its impacts joined forces, putting their politics aside?

That would be something few representatives of the people could ignore.

Sure, climate change deniers are still out there. But the preponderance of research, combined with down-home personal experience, is shifting the conversation to a more constructive place.

— Traverse City Record-Eagle