John,
Alpine chipmunks are seeing their habitat at the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada mountain range shrink—and climate change is the root of this threat to their survival.
Wildlife needs Congress to pass legislation to ensure the United States dramatically reduces its climate-disrupting carbon emissions to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change. Scientists tell us countries should release and capture a net result of zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century, and cut today’s emissions nearly in half over the next ten years.
Urge Congress to pass legislation to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.
Like many types of temperature-sensitive wildlife, the alpine chipmunk is seeing its livable range shrink as our leaders delay taking climate action. A smaller range, in turn, leads to decreased genetic diversity—a huge threat to the alpine chipmunk. A limited gene pool puts the alpine chipmunk at greater risk of disease, compounding the challenge of its dwindling habitat. Don’t let inaction in Washington, D.C. be the end of the alpine chipmunk.
Alpine chipmunks used to be found at elevations of 7,800 to 12,800 feet. But scientists have found that the lower part of their range has moved up an additional 1,640 feet—that’s more than one-and-a-half Eiffel Towers! Climate change will continue to contribute to the rise of temperatures across the country if we continue to delay taking climate action—and wildlife will continue to suffer.
Meeting the goal of reducing carbon emissions to net zero would be a boon to wildlife. And there are many ways to get there.
Putting a price on carbon is essential, but that’s not all we can do. From investing in habitat restoration that absorbs carbon from the atmosphere to incentivizing American’s adoption of electric vehicles and smarter energy usage, we don’t lack ideas. But we need action and the clock is ticking.
Stand up for alpine chipmunks today and urge your senators and representative to introduce, support, and pass legislation that will get the U.S. to net zero carbon emissions by the year 2050.
Thank you for joining with us in this fight for wildlife.
