To the Journal editor:

As reported in the March 8 Mining Journal, February 2024 ended up the warmest month on record in terms of global average temperature, the ninth month in a row that this record has been set.

Additionally, 2023 was the warmest year on record in terms of global average temperature since at least 1880 as the concentration of the atmospheric greenhouse gas carbon dioxide that traps heat near the Earth’s surface reached an all time high level last year (424 parts per million in May 2023).

The World Meteorological Organization also reports the time from 2015 through 2023 was the warmest 9-year period since at least the 1880s. This recent warming has caused record high sea surface temperatures/sea level rise as well as record low Antarctic sea ice, according to the WMO.

The great majority of the most qualified scientists in my field of atmospheric science blame human-caused greenhouse gas emissions — much of which come from burning dirty fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal — for this steady increase in temperature. Other short-sighted, irresponsible human actions like mass deforestation have also contributed to this global warming.

A September 2022 WMO report stated that human-caused global warming/climate change has caused weather-related disasters like flooding and drought to increase fivefold over the last 50 years, resulting in an average of 115 fatalities and $200 million damage every day around the world.

The WMO warns that unless humans reduce the burning of the dirty fossil fuels as well as the deforestation responsible for this climate change, these disastrous impacts will only get worse in the future.

Of course, another advantage of moving away from fossil fuels is that the reduction in demand for oil will punish the economies of dangerous countries like Russia and Iran.

The Mining Journal has printed several articles recently highlighting the impacts this changing climate has had on our local area and economy this warm winter.

For instance, in the March 11th issue on LSCP Perspectives, Christopher Germain wrote in the article Unreliable Winter Weather Impacts Local Businesses, “with record-breaking temperatures and a lack of snow this year, our businesses and organizations who count on a robust winter season are hurting.”

Another article entitled Fewer Fish and More Algae?, which was printed in the March 8th issue, highlighted how decreasing ice cover on the Great Lakes related to the overall warming will negatively impact the world’s largest freshwater system and fish populations.

If we don’t take the necessary action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow this dangerous climate change, the significant weather-related impacts listed above as well as events like the flooding that struck the Houghton area on Father’s Day 2018 and the lack of snow that did not allow the Marquette Mountain ski hill to open frequently this winter will become more likely.

To encourage our elected officials to take the necessary action to address human-caused climate change and help protect our area and economy, I urge your readers to go to the Citizens’ Climate Lobby website at https://citizensclimatelobby.org/get-loud-take-action and follow the Write Congress link there to urge our Congressional Representatives to support policies like carbon pricing to encourage a transition to clean, renewable energy sources.

Readers can also contact our congressional representatives by visiting their websites or calling 202-224-6221 for Senator Peters, 202-224-4822 for Senator Stabenow and 202-225-4735 for Rep Bergman. You can also visit citizensclimatelobby.org to sign up for future online actions.