On April 7, 2017 Gov. Bill Walker met with China’s President Xi Jinping in Anchorage. During a tour of Beluga Point, Xi spoke in awe of the beauty of Alaska, referring to the state as “Shangrilaska,” evoking Shangri-la, the fictional earthly paradise. Later during discussions, the topic of climate change was addressed by the two leaders. With the second-largest population in the world, China has struggled with maintaining clean air and drinking water, but in recent years has made efforts to be a leader in climate change research and application. “It appears that there’s a strong interest from China, as far as what to do on climate change,” Walker said. “It appears with the shift from the U.S., perhaps a bit less, they may be taking over that position on leading on that.” At a time when many, if not most, countries in the world are facing and acting on the realities of climate change, the U.S. is shifting from that reality with the defunding and dismantling of the EPA and the discontinuing of clean air and water regulations. These decisions will have lasting negative effects, felt both locally and globally.
In Alaska, global warming is already thawing permafrost, decreasing Arctic sea ice, changing ecosystems and threatening the traditional livelihoods of native Alaskans. Over the past 60 years, the average temperature across Alaska has increased by approximately 3 degrees Fahrenheit. This increase is more than twice the warming seen in the rest of the United States. Our entire marine food web is exposed to the threat of ocean acidification, thus endangering our commercial and subsistence fisheries. Changes in climate may outpace the capacity of some plants and animals to adapt, resulting in local or global extinctions. The loss of insulating snow cover allows yellow cedar trees to freeze in the spring, and up to 70 percent of some yellow cedar stands are dead. In an unprecedented test case, the village of Newtok, which is sliding into the Ninglick River, wants the federal government to declare these mounting impacts of climate change an official disaster.
Although there are various contributing factors to climate change, the science is very clear that human actions are a primary contributor. Thankfully, this means humans can also be the primary contributor in avoiding the worst impacts of climate change by drastically reducing carbon emissions and keeping fossil fuels in the ground. Now, more than ever, it is vitally important for citizens to give voice and take action to protect our state, country, and world. Locally, we can support renewable energy for Juneau. Write, email and call your elected representatives and let them know you believe climate change is a serious issue you want them to address. Join and support a climate change or environmental organization. The first chapter in Alaska of the global, grassroots climate change movement, 350.org, was recently launched in Juneau. The next community meeting of 350 JUNEAU will be Tuesday, May 9, at 5-6 p.m. at Northern Light United Church, located at 400 W. 11th St.
We all must act now to address climate change; to protect our state, our country, our world and our future. Act now so that “Shangrilaska” does not also become a once-remembered, now-fictional earthly paradise.
• Elaine Schroeder is an Organizing Team Member with 350 Juneau, a grassroots climate change group.
