Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to wildlife- changing, shrinking and destroying habitat,
forcing wildlife to migrate or adapt, or even threatening their very existence.
The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change warns that if we don’t take strong action to address
global warming soon, 20-30% of the world’s plant and animal species will be at increased risk of
extinction by 2050.
Fortunately, there is something that can be done. This summer, the House of Representatives passed
legislation to both reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases that are triggering climate change and take
steps to safeguard natural resources and wildlife threatened by the changes in climate already set in
motion. Now the Senate is moving on similar legislation recently introduced by Senators Boxer and Kerry.
However, reducing carbon emissions is not enough. Any comprehensive climate and energy legislation must
dedicate 5 percent of the funding generated to safeguarding fish and wildlife and the natural resources
on which we all rely. Our senators should know that their constituents expect nothing less.
Jessica Ehmke
Grand Rapids