In recent years, there has been troubling evidence of climate change in Montana. Experts warn if nothing is done, the consequences of climate change will be severe, and that was the topic of discussion Thursday night as three panelists addressed an audience in Helena.

Although carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that naturally cycles between the atmosphere and living things on earth, human activities such as driving cars and heating homes, for example, continue to create excess carbon. According to most scientists, this has overwhelmed the Earth’s ability to naturally cycle the atmospheric carbons, therefore resulting in climate change.

Gloria Flora, the Executive Director of Sustainable Obtainable Energy, explained, “There’s still all this extra carbon dioxide, which creates a blanket over the Earth, and it not only increases temperatures in some places, and decreases them in others, but causes some really dramatic changes in the actual climate and the weather that we’re seeing.”

Montana has seen the impact of climate change, and experts say that doing nothing will result in many negative consequences.

Flora added, “Increased insect infestations, the increased wildfires, all these can be tied back to climate change, not exclusively, but climate change is a big motivator for those things happening.”

It is recommended that Montanans do everything they can to conserve and use energy more efficiently. Many climate policy experts are also urging federal legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Eric DePlace, Senior Researcher for Sightline Institute, said, “We are finally beginning to take seriously our responsibilities to climate change, and we have enormous opportunities right now to invest in renewable energy, the very source of power that’s all around us here in Montana, wind, solar, and even geothermal.”

Gregg Small, Executive Director of Climate Solutions, added, “We have a great opportunity right now to address three of the biggest problems our country faces: climate change, our strong dependence on foreign oil, and jobs. We have a great opportunity with this issue to solve all three of those, and really develop new jobs in areas like renewables, wind, and energy efficiency.”