Illinois trails goal to cut damage to the Gulf
Gulf of Mexico “dead zones” resulting from algae blooms sapping up oxygen are so deadly, fish either flee or die, and Illinois — a huge contributor to the chemical runoffs flowing there — is falling behind nationwide efforts to help.
Most of the chemicals heading downstream to the Gulf are byproducts of agriculture; the U.S. Geological Survey says Illinois sends the most phosphorous and the second-most nitrogen there. A federal task force in 2001 set goals to to reduce the dead zone’s average size by thousands of square miles, but in the last five years, the dead zone has averaged 5,380 square miles, and now covers more than 6,300 square miles, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Illinois’ “Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy” seeks to reduce nitrogen and nitrate by 15% and phosphorus by 25% by 2025 with a goal of greater long-term reductions. However, a NLRS biennial report last year reported average nitrogen levels from 2015 to 2019 increased by 13% compared to 1980-1996, and phosphorus loads increased by 35%.
Dealing with farm pollution is mostly voluntary.
Winter’s salting a problem
Most people are almost as thankful for de-icing all winter as we are for spring. But new research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that salt seriously pollutes fresh water, from lakes and streams to aquifers.
“It’s becoming increasingly clear that we need to develop new chloride thresholds, new water-quality guidelines that really do protect our freshwater ecosystems from changes due to elevated salinity,” said the University of Toledo’s Dr. Bill Hintz, who participated in an international study on salinity affecting zooplankton that feeds fish and other species.
“We need to act now,” he said. “When you act 10 years, 15, 20, 30, 50 years down the road, every year that passes by, if you’re still using the salts you’re still increasing the concentration. Then who knows how long it will take to go away?”
Global warnings dire, but there’s hope
Extreme temperatures worldwide are killing trees and people, forcing many species to move, and jeopardizing health and water supplies, according to a new report released on Feb. 28 by 67 researchers with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
However, other, somewhat overlooked studies show that humanity can limit the damage if businesses, governments and individuals take strong action very soon.
If not, adverse affects aren’t limited to heat waves and fires, floods and droughts, but strains on healthcare systems, risks to mental health, increased food productivity and insecurity leading to migration to cities — all disproportionately affecting those with few resources.
IPCC Chair Hoeung Lee said the report is “a dire warning about the consequences of inaction.”
Protecting Nature by restoring degraded ecosystems, conserving 30% to 50% of the planet’s lands and waters would dramatically help. Slashing emissions to zero will stop rising temperatures rapidly but won’t cause global temperatures to fall. However, swift action could give the world time to mitigate or adapt.
Young Catholics tell Pope clergy ignores climate
Talking with Pope Francis in a Zoom chat from Loyola University on Feb. 24, some of the 130 young Catholics participating expressed disappointment that most priests ignore the climate crisis.
“Our experience is priests never discuss climate change,” said Creighton University’s Henry Glynn. Climate change is “the issue that profoundly worries our generation.”
The Pontiff responded in generalities, encouraging the young adults to “refuse any forms of hypocrisy.
“Don’t fall into the trap of hypocrisy, never in your life,” Francis said. “Hypocrisy poisons everything. Sincerity really helps you to live in harmony with ecology, with the rest of the world.”