Opinion: The climate crisis is knocking on our door

I grew up in South Dakota, the land of significantly less than ten thousand lakes. I don’t say this to undermine the beauty that my home state has to offer, but I say it to fully acknowledge the difference in the mindsets of communities surrounded by water versus communities that aren’t. 

There’s something about being near water that makes you feel more connected to the Earth – an obligation to protect her. This is why I decided to study in Duluth. I wanted to surround myself with people who care about our future on this planet as much as I do. 

Sophomore Isaac Conrad is a double major in Biology and Communications. Photo courtesy of Isaac Conrad

I feel as though much of the conversation around the climate crisis has transitioned away from what is happening locally and toward what is happening nationally. Don’t get me wrong – the climate crisis is a worldwide issue and it will take a global effort to secure our future on this planet, but that does not minimize the impact the climate crisis is making in our community, nor the ability we have to fight back. Let’s start by looking at some of the effects climate change is having on Duluth and Lake Superior. 

One noticeable impact is the decrease in ice coverage. If you looked on the lake last winter, you could tell: Ice coverage on Lake Superior was at its lowest in eight years. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recorded ice coverage at roughly 21% compared to an average ice cover of around 50%; ice coverage fluctuates from year to year, but NOAA research has indicated a downward trend in the amount of ice covering Lake Superior each year. 

If you’ve been down to Canal Park recently, you may have noticed that a rather larger portion of the Lakewalk is under reconstruction. The reason for this reconstruction is yet another result of climate change: an increase in the frequency of powerful storms has caused millions of dollars in damage to Duluth infrastructure. While it’s nice for us to know that Duluth is investing in the reconstruction of the Lakewalk, climate change does not care. Storms will only get worse.

Toledo, Ohio shut off water supply to the city in 2014 due to toxic blue-green algae bloom in Lake Erie. This left 400,000 people without access to clean water. Now, similar algae blooms are appearing in Lake Superior. I’ve had the opportunity to help research these blooms with UMD’s Large Lakes Observatory and the research indicates that increased lake temperatures and more powerful storms make Lake Superior the perfect place for these blooms to occur. While the blooms on Lake Superior currently have low levels of toxicity, they could become more toxic in the future as climate change progresses.

My intention of sharing this information is not to cause panic, but to help people realize that climate change is happening here and now. We may not be dealing with month-long wildfires or the rising sea level, but the climate crisis is impacting our community in many ways. 

Dealing with environmental issues is no longer something we can push off and I genuinely believe we can solve them. Again, I came to the University of Minnesota Duluth for this very reason: I’m surrounded by a community that values the health of our planet as much as I do. The solutions to dealing with the climate crisis are not futuristic nor impossible, so it’s time we start implementing them. 

Yes, you can skip the straw, bring a reusable bag and reduce your usage of single-use plastics. Yes, you can purchase an electric vehicle and ride DTA public transportation. Living a sustainable lifestyle is something you should invest in, but at the end of the day, if we want to make the biggest impact possible, we need social change. 

According to the Climate Accountability Institute, just 100 companies are responsible for over 70% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions since 1988. Collectively, we need to change the systems and structures that got us into this crisis in the first place; instead of focusing on a sustainable lifestyle, let’s focus on a sustainable society. How do we get there?

First, get involved. UMD and the Duluth community have numerous organizations dedicated to dealing with climate-related issues. Minnesota Public Interest Research Group at UMD has an Environmental Task Force that does a lot of great work around green efforts. It gives UMD students the tools and skills they need to become better organizers and environmental activists. 

Another great organization is The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Last year I had the opportunity to volunteer on TNC’s Our Mississippi, Our Future campaign: a campaign focused around keeping clean water clean. We successfully secured funding from the state legislature for many different conservation efforts. TNC will soon be rolling out another campaign focused on natural climate solutions. While these are two great environmental agencies, there is plenty more being done in Duluth.

I am very aware of the fact that not everyone has the time to volunteer and get involved, but there is still one more thing we can all do: vote. We may not have the time, the ideas, or the willpower to tackle climate change, but there are people who do. If we vote these people into office, they can pass legislation, work with local activists and bring about the kind of green change Duluth, our community, so desperately needs. With election day right around the corner, it’s important that we elect candidates who stand for a healthy planet.

I came to Duluth with the vision of a community full of leaders in the environmental movement; it’s about time we made that vision a reality. The climate crisis is here. It’s impacting our community. The question is whether or not we are ready to deal with it.