Whether you drive a Hummer or ride your bike to school every day, you are probably aware of the international conversation about the effects of climate change.
The debate received much more attention last week when the Obama administration officially denied protection for the pika under the Endangered Species Act. If the proposed status had been approved, the pika would be the first species officially recognized as threatened by climate change.
The pika is a small, chinchilla-like creature that is part of the rabbit family. They are nicknamed the "whistling hare" because of the high-pitched noise they make while diving into their burrows that are usually found on the sides of mountains.
They are partial to cold temperatures and have started to move their populations to higher elevations. Pikas don't hibernate and have a high internal temperature to survive cold winters. Since the pikas don't have control of their internal warming devices, they can die in the summer if their temperature increases even slightly.
It is reported in numerous articles that an increase of body temperature of just 3 degrees Celsius in the warmer months could kill a pika.
Many scientific articles propelled the theory that climate change caused their migration up the mountain and will eventually lead to their extinction.
Last April, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a report saying pika protection "may be warranted because of the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range as a result of effects related to global climate change."
Ultimately, government scientists did not find this statement to be true. They said that since the pikas have moved to find a more suitable habitat, they are able to adapt to the climate change.
Both sides of the debate cite scientific evidence to prove their points. Archaeologist Donald Grayson says there is an overwhelming amount of data showing that the pikas need our protection.
In an article for the Coloradoan, Kyle Patterson, spokeswoman for the Rocky Mountain National Park, said the date for studies being conducted right now show that the pikas have a solid habitat.
EarthJustice, an environmental law firm, represents the Center for Biological Diversity.
They are working together to establish the idea that climate change is impacting many places of the world and not just the arctic regions.
The Center for Biological Diversity has not decided if it will file a lawsuit to reverse the government's recent ruling on pikas. They are currently suing California regulators to protect the pika as part of the state endangered species act, though.
Only time will tell what is in store for the pika, but it is clear that the initiative to protect the animal has advanced the aspects of the climate change debate.
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