Global warming is the most serious threat to our environment we face today. On Friday, February 2, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) released its latest report on global warming. The report finds that human activities – primarily burning fossil fuels – have caused most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century, and the impacts of global warming are happening faster than previously expected.

This comes as no surprise to Montanans, who have seen ongoing droughts, less mountain snowpack, and earlier spring run-offs in recent years. Last summer, the State was forced to impose fishing closures due to high water temperatures and low stream flows on the Bitterroot, the Gallatin, the Madison, the Sun, the Dearborn, the Smith , and the Yellowstone Rivers. These widespread closures were unprecedented, but indicate what the future holds for Montana.

Go to the Global Warming Page for more information on the issue, actions at the Montana State Legislature, and ways you can help.

In the summer of 2006, Americans experienced a record heat wave. Rather than being an anomaly, it is indicative of a broader trend toward increasing temperatures and extreme weather resulting from global warming.

Feeling the Heat, released by MontPIRG in September 2006, analyzes 2000-2006 temperature data from 255 weather stations nationwide. Between 2000 and 2005, the average temperature was above normal at 95% of the locations, indicating widespread warming.  In addition, nights are getting warmer; the average minimum (nighttime low) temperature was above normal at 92% of the locations examined.

Helena, MT made the national top ten lists for both above-normal average temperature and average minimum temperature in 2006. During the first six months of 2006, the average temperature in Helena was 5.2° F above normal, ranking the city 8th for the highest above-normal temperature. During the first six months of 2006, the average minimum temperature in Helena was 5.3° F above normal, ranking the city 7th for the highest above-normal temperature.

Read the report Feeling the Heat (pdf)

See more global warming reports at our Mont PIRG Education Fund Reports Page.

Read the coverage:

Helena Independent Record

Great Falls Tribune

Billings Gazette

A MontPIRG report released on April 5, 2006 found that many college students are graduating with such great debt that entry-level salaries in public service careers cannot cover the costs. The report, Paying Back, Not Giving Back: Student Debt's Negative Impact on Public Service Career Opportunities,StudentDebt4-5.pdf comes in the wake of the February decision by Congress to cut $12 billion from student loan programs.

Read the report Paying Back, Not Giving Back (pdf)

Read the Missoulian article (pdf)