Like the dandelion, we will not be moved
We need a powerful chorus to tackle climate, and save our kids’ futures
I have been so thankful and relieved for what have seemed like mild summer temperatures in western Montana so far, my mind wanting to escape the unrelenting news from the rest of the world. But, I can’t look away from what’s happening: unrelenting heat waves, a growing death toll, and thousands of families being displaced by water and fire. I am incredibly frightened by how quickly climate chaos seems to be accelerating.
As extreme temperatures, wildfire, and weather events harm people across the globe, it’s clear that we are entering a wild, unpredictable future, and we must change course rapidly in order to stabilize our shared climate.
In Montana, despite my perception of a mild summer, we’re already experiencing big trouble: record lows in Flathead Lake’s water level, fishing restrictions on important rivers, and according to the Daily Montanan, “a high-pressure ridge is expected to push temperatures into the 90s and near 100 degrees this weekend into early next week in western Montana – about 15 degrees above normal.”
Many Montanans are scared. Even if we live in places where it’s unpopular or unsafe to talk about climate change, we can all see with our own eyes what’s happening. Montana government officials are demanding that Flathead Lake “be filled” as they say it will impact the economy and the environment if it’s not. This is what we’ve been saying: Climate change will impact everything we care about, and more, including our summer recreation. But, releasing water from reservoirs is not a permanent solution. We need to pump the brakes on heat trapping carbon pollution and begin to stabilize the water cycle that has sustained us for thousands of years. I’m saddened by the divisions hampering meaningful climate action on the state level, and the fossil fuel industry which is driving our beautiful home to the brink.
One morning last week, through grief-filled tears, I listened to a colleague read this poem shared in a recent webinar from the All We Can Save Project:
Dandelion Is The New Guru, By Lisa Bellamy
I am exhausted by my confusion,
wary of sudden fires,
but dandelions, it seems, have dug in
for the long haul, and to them
I offer 10,000 bows—
I witness the indignities they endure,
the insults (weed, useless stem,
filthy stalk). I admire
their stand against savagery, poisons,
brutal mowing; stalwart
resistance of the taproots.
I lie among them, listen
to their whispers: we will not be moved.
I breathed deeply through my grief, and my heart began to find standing once again. Later, I reread a DearTomorrow letter I had written to my daughter in 2021 for her to read 2050, explaining my fears, and my resolve to fight for her future. Again, my heart broke wide open as I was reminded that there is no giving up, because that would mean giving up on my child and her future. I was reminded that grief and loss will be part of it all, that I must learn to weather them, because every ton of carbon pollution matters for our shared future, and there will never ever be a time to give up.
The FLC team has reflected on the difference between “hope” and “courage” in climate work. Climate leader and activist Dekila Chungyalpa shared in a podcast interview that she does not anchor herself in hope, because hope naturally comes and goes. More reliable is the courage that comes from being deeply rooted in community, and the knowledge that the Earth is our home and that we belong here.
It is important to acknowledge that emotions like fear, grief, and hopelessness are normal parts of the human experience - especially when faced with an existential threat like climate change. And these moments of questioning and self-reflection can often lead to deeper, more meaningful commitments toward the change we want to bring forward.
Out of my own grief the last few weeks, I felt my commitment to this work grow deeper, like a dandelion’s fierce taproot burrowing into the ground, breaking up the soil, finding nutrients to flourish and spread. I have my community to thank–my team, and the countless volunteers who work with us, the many Montanans showing up for events like last weekend in Butte, where over 100 people joined our Montana Climate Story and Resilient Butte event at the Montana Folk Festival.
We will not be moved.
The answer to addressing this crisis is clear and simple: rapidly end the use of fossil fuels. If we do, our climate will begin to stabilize. How do we get there?
Elected leaders should come together to declare a climate emergency, and take bold action to eliminate carbon pollution using every effective policy option and rule possible while providing a just transition plan for fossil fuel workers and their communities. All nations and leaders should commit to joining a Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty.
Every business and corporation should create a meaningful road map to end its reliance on fossil fuels swiftly (ideally by 2030 or 2035) with bold, public benchmarks to which they can hold themselves to account.
They can look to Holy Cross Energy in Colorado for inspiration. “We set a target,” says current board chair Munk. “Can we move ahead to high levels of renewable energy and still preserve the affordability?” So far, the answer has been yes. In 2022, Holy Cross inched over a significant threshold: 50 percent of its energy was coming from noncarbon sources. Yet Munk notes that Holy Cross’ rates are among the lowest in Colorado and says the utility had saved customers $29 million in power supply costs since 2019 by greening its product.
Families with the time and resources to do so can certainly do the same. We can
Electrify our homes, and our transportation by moving to an EV and/or electric bike. We can also walk more, ride our regular bikes and take the bus.
Move our money out of fossil fuels by decarbonizing our retirement funds, and banking.
Consider writing a DearTomorrow letter to spark our personal connection to the future and share our personal climate story regularly with family and friends to help normalize climate conversations in our communities, and show just how many people already support climate action. According to a 2022 study in Nature, “While 66–80% Americans support these policies, Americans estimate the prevalence to only be between 37–43% on average.” We must break our silence!
Share our stories when we speak up about important policies.
Support climate organizations by donating, or volunteering our time. At Families for a Livable Climate, join our core team and/or working groups focused on plastic pollution, clean energy, and healthy schools for Montana kids. Learn more and join us.
We need a chorus of people using their voices to demand bold action without delay. Our kids, and their futures, are depending on us.
If you are able, work through the above checklist for families, then take action on specific issues as you’re able. Here is another concrete action you can take today:
Through August 8, please comment on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new proposed greenhouse gas rules.
From our friends at 350Montana: “The EPA is proposing new regulations to strongly curtail carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. Since power plants are responsible for 25 percent of this country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution, we hope that you will take the time to comment in support of these new regulations on fossil-fuel-fired electrical generators and cut 617 million tons of carbon pollution.
The EPA’s argument is straight-forward. Fossil fuel electrical generators are the largest source of greenhouse gasses. Global warming is causing life-threatening environmental and human health impacts. We have reasonably priced, proven technologies available to curtail the pollution heating up the planet. Finally, we just passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides $21.5 billion for the “development, demonstration, and deployment of clean energy technologies.”
Personalized comments about what climate change, and the guidelines on greenhouse gases mean to you and your family, will be the most effective. Take action today and tell the EPA to support these new power plant standards that will combat climate change, improve public health, and protect our environment.
Additionally, stay tuned for opportunities to submit comments to the Public Service Commission regarding NorthWestern Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).
Their plan will determine how energy is produced for the majority of our municipalities over the next 20-30 years. Despite NorthWestern’s marketing materials covered in wind turbines, the company’s plan doubles down on building fossil-fuel infrastructure through 2035, and running Colstrip into the 2040s. Its vision will put Montana families on the hook for dirty and expensive energy infrastructure, and make Montana complicit in worsening climate change and climate impacts on all families.
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To our shared future,
Winona Bateman
Executive Director, Families for a Livable Climate
