Climate Change: My Four Year Old Son is For It

It was February 19th, and I was outside with a light sweatshirt, watching my son run around with a school friend.  In between giggles and fighting evil, he would stop and beg me to let him wear a t-shirt.  February 19th in Connecticut, and it was fifty degrees.  What's going on?

More than one weatherman has told me this is how averages are made.  One year we have a severe winter, the next, a mild one, mix them together and you get what many consider the norm in the "Nutmeg State."  What this winter has done, at least in some circles, is continue the debate on whether this southern-esque season is a prime example of climate change.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, temperatures have risen across the lower 48 states since the beginning of the twentieth century.  In fact, of the ten warmest years on record, seven of those have occurred since 1990.  In addition, the frequency of heat waves has risen since the 1970's.  Is this just the natural evolution of Mother Earth, or is it something the human species has caused?

Obviously, the debate over climate change is as volatile as the winds surrounding a hurricane eye wall.  Yet what can not be disputed are preparations that are currently taking place to protect Connecticut from a radical shift in the accepted weather pattern.  Not long ago, I sat down with Daniel Esty, who is the Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

"We are not going to suddenly get awake one day and there is climate change upon us.  The problem is people might be a little slow on the uptake.  So it's really important that we begin to focus now, and move towards what is known as adaptation."

But pinpointing one area to focus on is like counting the raindrops.  Think about it - weather impacts just about everything we do.  Where does the conversation start when coming up with a defense plan?

"We do know that the coastal areas are one priority," says Esty.  "People building along the coast will have to prepare for not just sea level rise, but greater storm surges and quite possibly more intense hurricanes."

It also means that coastal communities have to rethink how they develop valuable properties, from zoning changes to exactly what and where things can be built.  Factor in a storm, the storm surge, and you can have calamity...houses destroyed...and an eco-system ravaged.  Plus, what happens to the local or state economy if businesses are destroyed?  What would the impact be if highways and state roads are damaged that hinder interstate commerce?

""There has to be a critical amount of activity on the town levels.  So we have to work with mayors, first selectmen, and local officials to make sure we have the right plans in place and frankly, doing some of the kinds of building our infrastructure, hardening of our systems that will eave us less vulnerable as we go forward," Esty said.

Back in the backyard, my son doesn't seem to be minding climate change one bit.  There has been no talk of building snowmen, no pining for the lack of snow to build a fort.  In fact, he looked up at me as I was outside grilling, and said, "Daddy, when can we go swimming?"

Well the polar bears may not be happy, but if this continues, we may be able to take a dip in the pool...in March.

I’m a little slow to follow the next great technological breakthrough.

I never wanted a cell phone.  But a long distance relationship put a stop to that.

I didn’t need an ipod, because I had compact discs!  But then I learned that having one little music-playing tool in my car was much easier than carrying dozens of discs in my car.  (Plus, do you remember how the “Walkman” ate batteries?)

“Social media” to me meant having a conversation at a cocktail party.  I never wanted to participate on Facebook or Twitter, but then I finally had the great realization of how powerful the medium could be.  (Researchers say it’s more addictive than smoking or sex.  Whoa.)

I never wanted a smart phone.  “I have a computer at home,” I would say to myself.  “Why the hell do I need one in my hand?”  But then an iphone was placed into my sweaty palm, and I become engrossed in the power of having information at my fingertips. 

And I never wanted a blog.  Who would want to read what I have to say?  I’m no editorialist, I’m a journalist!  I’m objective!  I’m in the middle!  I report and you decide! 

But after being persuaded by some colleagues of the value of putting thoughts on world-wide-web paper, I decided to take the plunge.

So here I am.

I’m going to write as often as I can.  I’ll talk about sports, family, religion, and of course, news.  The opinions are my own, and do not reflect the feelings of my employer.  If you like what I have to say, don’t like what I have to say – let me know.  I love a good public discourse!

So welcome to Muro’s Musings.  Heaven only knows how long it will be until the NEXT big thing comes along that will take me years to accept, but for now, I’m taking a leap of faith…and writing – my way.