OPINIONCynicism runs rampant in our society and has very dangerous consequences. There are some indisputable facts that we all live with. For instance we age every day, the earth revolves around the sun and we have 365 days in a year. We all experience this so there shouldnt be a debate.

So why are there doubts about climate change? We experience more extreme-weather events more often than ever before. We see it and we feel it. Those changes affect our lives in many ways and raise questions about our future.

Wis. Gov. Tony Evers recently appointed me to the Climate Change Task Force to replace recently retired Wis. Sen. Mark Miller, D-16-Monona. The Task Force is comprised of farmers, business leaders, conservationists, tribal leaders and a bipartisan group of state legislators. Since 2019 the Task Force has learned how climate change is impacting Wisconsin. From personal experience and what Ive learned so far from the Task Force, its clear were heading further down a dangerous road if we dont act quickly and boldly enough on the impending climate crisis.

Many can point to the news of the California wildfires or the freezing temperatures in Texas as examples of climate change. But there is an accelerating pattern of extreme-weather events happening here in Wisconsin that calls on us to realize how serious we should be taking climate change.

Flooding, for example, has become much-more frequent and destructive in western Wisconsin in recent years. Higher groundwater levels are a result of our climates increasing temperatures. Increasing temperatures in addition to increased rainfall contribute to those flooding disasters. Scientists expect temperatures to become warmer and rainfall events to increase, which will only make flooding more common and more severe in our rural communities.

Extreme-weather events caused by climate change have significant economic and public-health implications. In the past 20 years weather disasters cost Wisconsin $100 billion in damages. According to the Wisconsin Hazard Mitigation, theres an estimated $40 billion worth of Wisconsin homes and businesses within a 100-year floodplain. Floods are known to ruin farmer livelihoods, displace families and create significant public-safety hazards.

Floods are the deadliest natural disaster in the United States. Floods also pose dangerous long-term health repercussions. Floods carry contaminated groundwater from nearby Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and expose households to mold contamination, which can lead to upper-respiratory infections.

Were seeing climate change in our own backyard and yet many refuse to believe this reality. I believe those who perpetuate the climate change is a hoax myth are motivated by profit, especially the very-wealthy fossil-fuel-energy corporations. They fear losing billions if we move toward making responsible and sustainable energy decisions.

It reminds me of the way the tobacco industry paid their own researchers to lie about the fact that their products were killing people. It took decades for scientists and doctors to finally convince people that tobacco companies were lying about purposely adding addictive and carcinogenic ingredients just so they could become rich.

What could be the possible motive of climate-research scientists who warn us about climate change? It isnt profit. Our public universities, like the University of Wisconsin, house the foremost research facilities and experts in the world. Their motivations are purely professional and driven by science in their discipline. Whether they prove or disprove a theory doesnt change their wealth or status in society. Theyre motivated to make our world a better place.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration theres consensus among scientists that climate change is the result of human behavior. Humans are responsible for deforestation and burning fossil fuels at an alarming rate, which have increased carbon-dioxide levels and made our planet warmer.

Humans have caused much of the problem but were able to find solutions. It starts with admitting our problem and being accountable. Then its up to us to do our part. We must set aside the short-term need for profit and embrace the long-term need for survival.

Jeff Smith of Brunswick represents the 31st District of Wisconsin as a member of the Democratic Party.

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