Testimony ended today in a groundbreaking climate lawsuit being heard in a Montana state court. The suit, brought by 16 youth plaintiffs, argues that Montana’s energy policies contribute to climate change and therefore violate a right, enshrined in the state’s constitution, to “a clean and healthful environment.” It is the first youth-led climate lawsuit to be heard by a U.S. court.
The trial, which began on 12 June and is taking place at the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse in Helena, Montana, featured testimony from an array of policy and scientific experts. Those testifying for the plaintiffs have argued that Montana—a major producer of fossil fuels—has a constitutional obligation to move away from policies that amplify the threats posed by climate change. That state has sought to downplay Montana’s contribution to global warming and question the severity of climate change.
Among the scientists testifying for the plaintiffs was paleoclimatologist Cathy Whitlock, a professor emeritus at Montana State University. Whitlock has spent decades studying long-term climate and environmental change and was the lead author of the 2017 Montana Climate Assessment, the state’s first detailed analysis of climate change’s expected effects on its water resources, forests, and agriculture. On 13 June, Whitlock testified to Montana’s declining snowpack, changing precipitation trends, and rapid rate of warming, which exceeds that of the United States as a whole. Together, she said, these shifts could lead to more drought and intense wildfire in the state.
ScienceInsider recently spoke with Whitlock about what it was like to be on the witness stand and face cross-examination by defense attorneys. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
A: I was contacted by lawyers from Our Children’s Trust [a nonprofit law firm]. I didn’t know if I wanted to be in such a contentious setting and talk about science. Then I thought: This is exactly how science should be used.
A: I’ve never been involved in a trial case before as an expert witness. It’s really a lot of work. You start out by preparing an expert report. You want to be sure that everything you say, you can document, and that you’re very, very clear on what the issues are. After our lengthy report went out, the defendants brought their experts together. They put together a report rebutting our report, so we had to reply to that. And new climate information has come out in the last 2 years, including the release of the most recent assessment report from the [Intergovernmental] Panel on Climate Change—which we also had to update our report with.
Then, there was the deposition, where we were asked questions by the defense attorneys. [There also was] general preparation, like practicing many iterations of my presentation with the legal team to see what would be the most effective. So, this case is something that’s been on my mind for several months now.
A: I was ready to have my day in court, as they say—and explain what was going on, to everyone listening, that Montana is experiencing climate changes that are significant and harmful. Just like the rest of the world.
I might have offered more responses to some of the cross-examination than I did. A lot of the questions are put out there as bait, to get you to start talking about things that you aren’t an expert in. The last thing I wanted to do was give information that would have to be corrected.
A: I was prepared for it, but it [didn’t] come up. Climate attribution science is tricky, but it’s getting more and more powerful. The problem is [attribution researchers] haven’t reviewed any of the events discussed in the trial because they’re small in scale. A flood on the Yellowstone River or the big fire in northwestern Montana haven’t been looked at—they’re not at the scale that the attribution communities have gone after. And as I understand it, it’s much easier to assign attribution to temperature events. Extreme heat events and so on are easier to analyze than a spring flood.
A: I’ve had experience with that because I’ve talked to communities around the state. When the [Montana Climate Assessment] first came out, we started this big public outreach effort. Like a lot of scientists, I’m an introverted person. The thought of talking to a roomful of strangers that are probably conservative and going to give you a bad time—I thought, “This is just gonna be terrible.”
But everyone that I’ve met has been extremely polite and interested. What I’ve found, especially in rural communities, is that most people know that the climate is changing. Farmers and ranchers, they see climate change, they live with climate change. All the information that we present just reinforces what they’ve already seen in their lifetimes.
The Covid-induced tourism boom to Montana introduced a new audience to the Clark Fork River. For two summers, boats, tubers, kayakers, paddleboarders and river boarders had campgrounds and fishing access sites clogged.
That visitation surge has settled, but once tasted, more people are using the incredible water resources today, and who can blame them?
Most water recreation can be done with common sense safety but whitewater rafting is best done with an experienced company unless the person behind the oars has been safety certified. That’s because it’s a far cry from rowing with your buddies from Forest Grove to the Big Eddy Fishing Access sites casting flies all afternoon.
There are several rafting companies that specialize in whitewater rafting with experienced guides that will make an incredible memory for families with lots of fun, laughter and the stories they share. The shuttle back to your vehicle is happy rafters telling their favorite parts of the day.
“The Alberton Gorge is one of the most beautiful sections of river in Montana and during the summer it has incredible scenery and whitewater opportunities. It’s our specialty! But our scenic wildlife viewing floats on gentle water are becoming more popular. And these are the heart and soul of Montana River Guides,” said Mike Johnston who started the company in 1994.
Montana River Guides has certified whitewater rescue instructors and they have been training search and rescue, fire departments, and rafting companies for many years from as far away as Costa Rica and India. They are affiliated with the Whitewater Rescue Institute and every guide is trained in swiftwater rescue. They are so secure that they are the Discovery Channel’s only choice for whitewater safety.
The foundation of the rafting company is family-oriented whitewater rafting and picturesque river floating.
“We’ve always been off the beaten path, a little bit, being in Alberton,” Johnston explained. “And the longer we’ve had our company, the more we appreciate that we are not near a national park as it’s not near as crowded. That we’re not in a part of Montana that gets overwhelmed with tourism.”
However, the business has been growing steadily as more people move into Missoula and the Spokane and Coeur ‘d Alene areas as those are the repeat customers which are a huge chunk of revenue.
“A lot of our customers are local people and families,” Johnston said. “And then their visiting friends and families come and try it out. They come back year after year. But we also have a lot of tourists who used to drive through the area but have realized there’s a lot of stuff to do here for all ages so it’s almost a destination.”
Something Johnston shares that he’s noticed in his 30 years of taking people rafting is heartening.
“Families today not only include kids and maybe grandparents, but more and more people ask about floating with their dogs. We accommodate it whenever we can. Of course, we can’t do it in big whitewater but on the scenic floats on the Blackfoot or other rivers we float, we have different sized life jackets designed especially for dogs and we’ve never had a bad experience.”
Just to ensure that other rafters might not be dog-people, the requesting party must rent the entire boat, which happens anyway with so many friends and family members.
Johnston is a director of the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce as a personal supporter of local businesses but also to refer his visitors to other local establishments. Where to eat, spend the night, play pool, fill propane tanks, campgrounds that are nearby, etc. Float information and scheduling is done online at montanariverguides.com.
Voters have waited with baited breaths for their ballot to arrive in their mailboxes. A caller this morning inspired me to this post about the ballots just mailed out…all three of them.
Credit: Travis Lee, TSM
A coworker agreed with this topic choice, then added, “My father-in-law called me last night, asking questions about the ballots.” I suppose it’s understandable. We expect something pretty clearcut and it’s not quite. For those new to voting, or anyone confused by what they received, let’s see if I can help.
The state of Montana does not document party affiliation for a resident when they register to vote. The voter cards mailed earlier do not list party. In the primary election, such as now in May, a voter is free to decide which party races they will vote in. So a Montanan can cast a ballot for either Democrat, Republican or Green. Others in the state have four ballots in their packet.
The most important sheet of paper in the ballot packet is the Voting Instructions. Follow these steps and your choices will be respected and counted.
While the steps are pretty straightforward, number 1 states “Choose ONE Ballot to Vote.”
Credit: Travis Lee, TSM
Translated: No, please don’t mark all three or four and send them in. Waste of your vote. The Elections office will not count them. A voter is free to choose the one party‘s races they care about and will participate in by voting.
Another caller this morning urged listeners to fill out their ballot and turn it in as soon as possible. Why? The only reason a voter should sent it in ASAP is if they will mail it. The Postal Service will need days for delivery. Like the Instructions clearly says at the top “a postmark is not accepted.” The best practice is to deliver in person. That being said, you have until June 4th to carefully think about your choices and fill out the ballot, then turn it in to the Elections Office or drop it in an official ballot box. As of the date of this article, you have time.
This is a risky question to ask. A radio guest suggested that if you absolutely don’t know who to vote for in a particular race, ask someone who follows all this political stuff and who can tell you who to vote for. I’m a little bothered by this advice because at first blush it seems like ceding control of your vote to another person. But then who do you ask? I will therefore add that you should ask someone who is knowledgeable and whom you trust, and they should give you concrete information or point you where to look for yourself. Answers like “Vote for him, he’s a (political view)” or “I met her, nice lady” is not nearly enough to make an informed choice.
Perhaps a better question is “Who do you recommend for this specific race, and why?”
Still, do your homework. An incumbent candidate has a voting record; look it up. How did they vote on key issues when it mattered most? What they say in news articles and on media should again be taken with salt. Politicians say all manner of things. Their social media may give some insight. Their votes and their actions are their true voice. And again, you have time.
The key message I have is that you should be in control of your vote. Don’t give your power to someone else with an unfilled ballot or have someone other than the Postal Service deliver it for you. That piece of paper, that ballot, is truly your power in these elections.
Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart
Safety Town 2024 Great Falls, Montana
Gallery Credit: Tammie Toren
Posted at 11:06 AM, May 14, 2024
and last updated 2024-05-14 13:17:09-04
LOLO — The northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 93 are blocked south of Lolo due to a crash.
According to the Montana Highway Patrol incident website, it is a fatal crash at mile marker 80.
The crash was reported shortly before 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday.
The Montana Department of Transportation reports the northbound lanes of Highway 93 are blocked south of Trader Brothers.
Traffic is heavily delayed in the area.
More local news from KPAX
Copyright 2024 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
House Dems seeking re-election seemingly reverse course, call on Biden to 'bring order to the southern border'
Fetterman says anti-Israel campus protests ‘working against peace' in Middle East, not putting hostages first
US man diagnosed with brain damage after allegedly being pushed into lake
Gaza ceasefire talks at crucial stage as Hamas delegation leaves Cairo
Republicans believe college campus chaos works in their favor
Stand-in Jose Raul Mulino wins Panama presidential race
Tech compliance reports, Newsletter
Columbia University cancels its main commencement ceremony after weeks of turmoil
