Things really are coming together nicely here in Jackson Hole. I really do believe we are gaining critical mass in the fight against global warming.

Of course, the talking stage has got to progress to the action stage, which will have to progress to the behavior change stage. But the energy behind a community-wide effort certainly seems to be building.

In fact, as I was sitting the Town Council Chambers on Wednesday for our Mayor's weekly brown bag lunch, the community's energy was abundantly clear. The 14 seventh-graders who call themselves the Global Warming Heroes League were there to present their perspective on global warming and answer the question: Is There Still Time?

Here's what they had to say:

• the older generation is swamped by near-term problems
• we need action soon: a decade of business of usual has eliminated alternative scenarios
• our potential legacy: a great moral burden, perhaps a legal one
• our best hope: the young(er) generation becomes informed and involved

Council Chambers were packed–and not just by the kids' proud parents. The Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce was there, who also happens to be the chair of the newly appointed Town/County Energy Advisory Board. Members of the Town/County Green Team were there, the media was there, as were representatives of the Joint Powers Recycling Board, the Murie Center and Sustaining Jackson Hole.

Of course, one could argue that Council Chambers were packed by "the choir," but that would shortchange the collective energy and progress that these groups have made over the past six months. Progress and commitment that can be summed up in one catch phrase that just happens to be the focus of a joint resolution passed by Town Council and County Commissioners last Monday.

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