David Voigts.

I believe that I, my neighbors, the residents of Earth, and Earth itself are being affected by a changing climate. According to an article in the journal Bioscience, there are increases in extreme weather events, area burned by wildfires, and the costs associated with weather events including lowered crop yields. There also have been increases in global surface temperature, ocean heat content, ocean acidity, and sea level. In addition, there have been measured declines in summer Arctic Sea ice, the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, and glacier thickness worldwide. These disruptions are happening now, not in the future, and they are caused, primarily, by the emission of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels.

I believe as a person of faith that we have been given a mandate by God to care for His good creation. Since Earth’s climate is being impacted by man’s activities, we have the responsibility to correct the existing situation and lessen future climatic disruptions.

I believe that we can reduce the effects of climate change with market-driven, cost-effective measures, including the use of alternative energy like wind and solar. I am dismayed that instead of advancing these tools that conservatives should embrace, Republicans are giving up the leadership role on addressing climate change, and I am extremely disappointed that the resistance to the use of less expensive wind and solar energy is driving up the cost of electricity.

In conclusion, I cannot vote for any candidate that will not work to reduce both the effects of climate change and the cost of electricity.

David Voigts is a retired ecologist and the current Conservation Chair for the Prairie Rapids Audubon Society. He is a Tama County native, graduating from Dinsdale High School, and lives in rural Jesup on his wife’s family farm.