“Climate change is real,” Murkowski told the audience firmly. “Climate change is real.”

…

“While healthcare has been the issue that has been dominating our days, it isn’t the issue that is defining our time,” Murkowski said. “Our world is changing. The world around us is changing: socially, economically, and ecologically. And we all know that climate change is at the heart of this change.”

Murkoswki said effects are being felt across the state: “Newtok, Kivalina, Shishmaref: these are the names that seem to most make the news,” she said. “But it’s also our Interior communities as well. Almost every village faces similar impact. ”

And, Murkowski said it’s time to take action. …

“Confronting climate change and adapting to it will take leadership, it will take partnership and attention to social justice if we are to find the strength to tackle the issue together,” Murkowski said.

Now, before you get all weepy-eyed about how we can form a coalition across party lines to address climate change, forget that right now. The majority of Republicans are in the pocket of the energy companies, and will continue to oppose action on climate change. The very large, vast majority of them. As long as the Republicans are in charge in either house of the US Congress, or in any legislative chamber in state, action will be opposed in those states because that is how the caucus system works.

Murkowski’s talk about climate change is impotent and irrelevant. Unless….

Unless one thing happens. One decision she can make to change the world, in a huge way. One thing.

Any guesses as to what that might be? If you think of it, let us know in the comments, but also, seriously consider sending her a letter encouraging her to take this action.