I appreciate your work as a legislator to address problems that affect us nationally and locally in Southwest Colorado.

I appreciate your insight and campaign promises to address key issues regarding jobs and disaster help.

I read your quote about these issues “…they shouldn’t be political. They are important for our communities, our families, and our jobs.”

On this very basis I send you this appeal.

Days ago a second major climate report was issued, this one by 13 of our federal government agencies.

Climate change is happening now; we’re paying for it now, suffering now. The economic costs to our nation are staggering for disaster help.

Wild fires and hurricanes are intensified by global warming and it’s only going to get worse unless we reduce our carbon emissions.

Crop yields are at risk from excessive heat and drought.

As a country, we are way behind in cutting our carbon emissions to bring the problem under control.

We are behind in building resilience and adaptations to face the challenges from a warming climate.

I would rather see jobs created by building a clean energy economy that reduces greenhouse gasses than jobs created by fighting destructive fires and disaster relief from extreme weather events.

We all profit from preventative measures. We need national leadership, Rep. Tipton, to protect the very things we both hold dear; our communities, our families, and our jobs.

The science is compelling, the message is clear.

It’s time to act. It’s past time.

Ed Atkinson

Durango