The rains will come. Temperatures will drop. Skies will turn grey and in a couple of months from now someone, while trying to fight off the chill, will no doubt take a poke at climate change.

“Geeez… it’s cold, so much for climate change!”

A little humor never hurts.

But if you still think climate change is a joke, or that what’s happening across the globe (think coral reefs, snowpack and ocean acidification, to start) is simply some kind of cyclical twist in Mother Nature’s grand scheme or bag of tricks, then think again.

Better yet, track down the story about Washington state’s shellfish industry. There, you’ll discover how a multi-million dollar resource-dependent enterprise that employs 3,000-plus people statewide can be brought to its knees by “corrosive” sea water laden with carbon, how hard-working, thrifty, conservative-minded businessmen and businesswomen become believers, and how science, and private-public partnerships, can figure out a way to change, adapt and find solutions to complex, daunting problems before it’s too late.

Kudos to the coalition of local public agencies, civic groups and non-profits that sponsored the 2014 summer climate change lecture series,  “Climate Action Imperative,” led in large part by the Madrona Institute, San Juan Island National Historical Park and the Stewardship Network.

The day of the Sept. 10 series finale began with an alarming presentation by Bill Dewey of the Taylor Shellfish Company, and ended with a panel discussion.

The take away?

Together we can find solutions, and inaction is not an option. Here, here.