Chapter 1: A Journey into Climate Realities

Recent weeks have brought a barrage of reports detailing various climate disasters. From unprecedented heat waves in the Pacific Northwest to wildfires ravaging the West and severe flooding in China and Germany, the news is alarming. Such reports typically feature striking visuals and casualty figures. This growing awareness of our collective vulnerability might finally lead to the comprehensive international actions necessary to combat these challenges, although some argue it merely cultivates despair. Despite my extensive research on climate issues, grasping the full extent of what’s at stake and its potential impact on all life on Earth can be overwhelming. A recent visit to Alaska underscored these realities.

Our first destination was Denali National Park, a sprawling six-million-acre wilderness that includes Mt. Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley until 2015). Here, we observed the Muldrow Glacier in the latter stages of a “surge,” with the glacier advancing up to 100 feet daily, a stark contrast to its usual inches. While this phenomenon is captivating, the influence of climate change is still debated among scientists, especially given that nearly all of Alaska's estimated 27,000 glaciers are retreating. Though this area is far from the Northwest Passage, discussions hinted at shorter shipping routes through a potentially ice-free Arctic, raising concerns about its impact on marine ecosystems and Indigenous communities.

During our time in Denali, we learned how rising temperatures have necessitated alterations to the annual Iditarod sled dog race. In both 2015 and 2017, the event had to be rerouted significantly due to insufficient snow. We also frequently discussed the difficulties posed by building on permafrost. As temperatures rise, roads constructed on gravel—sometimes transported over long distances—require more frequent repairs. At various museums, we discovered that Indigenous villages are being forced to abandon their ancestral lands due to melting Arctic ice and coastal erosion. These communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change, as their food sources and cultural practices are deeply tied to ice and cold environments.

As we boated along the southeast coast of Alaska from Juneau to Sitka, we learned of the sharp decline in commercial salmon catches, with warming oceans being a contributing factor. At a fish hatchery, specialists explained that the shifting fish populations now allow them to produce only lower-value salmon, predominantly used for pet food. Hiking in Tsongas National Forest, we encountered numerous dead yellow cedars, a species known for its durability and resistance to decay—valued by native tribes but now facing endangerment. Research has linked their decline to spring freezes caused by warming temperatures and the absence of insulating snow cover over their shallow roots, an issue that has persisted for over a century but is likely to worsen due to climate change.

On a rugged trail maintained by the Forest Service, a naturalist pointed out various bird species beginning their end-of-summer migrations. Many of these birds are already altering their migratory paths in response to changing climate conditions. Additionally, we learned about the threats to coastal shellfish populations from ocean warming and acidification, which could have significant economic and ecological repercussions. Shellfish are a crucial food source for Alaskan brown bears, a fact we observed multiple times along the shorelines.

A visit to Alaska leaves one with a striking contrast between the state's environmental vulnerabilities and its reliance on oil production, which constitutes nearly 85 percent of the state budget. Instead of paying taxes, residents who have lived in the state for a full calendar year receive an annual dividend payment, which was $992 in 2020, with previous years exceeding $2,000. Yet, an exhibit detailing the devastation wrought by the Exxon Valdez oil spill more than three decades ago remains prominently displayed at the State Museum in Juneau, showcasing memorabilia from the protests that ensued.

An influential report, the 2018 Fourth National Climate Assessment, emphasizes that Alaska stands “on the front lines of climate change and is among the fastest-warming regions on Earth.” It highlights various impacts, including longer seasons without sea ice, ocean acidification, elevated ground temperatures leading to permafrost melting, and coastal erosion. The melting permafrost poses risks not only to surface structures but also threatens to release vast amounts of methane gas trapped below ground, possibly equivalent to or exceeding all emissions from human activities globally. However, the report's fragmented analysis does not fully address the overarching implications. Will Alaska undergo fundamental transformations due to the radical changes in climate that have sustained Indigenous communities for generations? How will the ongoing decline of glaciers and the freshwater they provide alter the state’s ecology?

In the intricate realm of climate policy, conversations increasingly center on "adaptation"—relocating coastal communities (or, as policymakers term it, “retreat”), constructing sea walls, and enhancing urban greenery to mitigate heat. In various regions across the U.S., outdoor work on farms and construction, as well as indoor activities in hot spaces lacking air conditioning, are already being restricted due to extreme heat. Clearly, the demand for such adaptive measures, along with economic incentives for their development, will escalate as temperatures and sea levels continue to rise.

However, my experiences in Alaska reveal that there are limits to adaptation. Climate change will fundamentally reshape our lifestyles, the locations we inhabit, and the natural world around us in ways that extend beyond mere disasters. Predicting the full scope and implications of these changes hinges on human behavior just as much as our grasp of the climate system, rendering precise predictions elusive. Yet, I am certain that if my daughter undertakes the same journey in 40 years, she will encounter a vastly different reality—one that we are unable to fully envision today.

This video explores firsthand experiences and observations of climate change in Alaska, providing a vivid portrayal of the ongoing challenges.

Chapter 2: Perspectives on Global Warming

The Stegner Symposium 2006 discusses the broader implications of climate change, including its effects on communities and ecosystems worldwide.