If you believe global warming is occurring, and the great majority of Americans do, you may be asking yourself, “What do I do?” Here are a few suggestions for coping.

First, I urge you to do those energy saving things that bring the most psychic unguent at the least cost to you: replace an incandescent light bulb with a florescent, bike rather than drive, trade your Hummer in for a Prius (or some say vice versa), kill a cow, or plant trees. The list goes on and on. There is no shortage of opportunities to save energy. Pick those that make you feel good and advertise your sensitivity and loyalty to the GW crusade. To be effective, your behavioral change should be contagious.

Second, recognize that whatever its causes, and we will know them ever better, GW will be with us for the rest of our lives and those of our children and grandchildren. I say this irrespective of the reader’s age. The social, physical, and solar variables in the system have huge lags and great inertia. Don’t expect short term results or you will be disappointed.

Third, don’t assume that folks skeptical of the GW crusade are stupid, evil, or weak-willed captives of special interests. Some believe they’ve seen this movie before, and many see alternative scientific explanations for GW. For example, one model shows that increased CO2 is the effect, rather than the cause, of warmer temperatures.

Fourth, accept that while not all good things go together, neither do all bad. GW will have some clear benefits. Identify and enjoy them. Mopping and bemoaning are not constructive responses. Two fun, easy, and inexpensive activities that will benefit from climate change are tree planting and bike commuting.

Each spring for the past few years I’ve planted a thousand or so wildlife shrubs and trees. Plants love CO2, and higher levels will promote growth and increase resistance to parasites, drought, and other stresses. The Montana Seedling Nursery in the Forestry Division of the DNR is a great source of inexpensive plants and useful information. Their staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful.

A warming climate also expands the seasonal range of bike commuting, a healthy and environmentally friendly activity. As I was biking in early March, I reflected on the end of last year’s biking season—two glorious days at the end of October. On a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon, a friend and I cycled a twenty-mile loop from Gateway. We passed a Gooch Hill neighbor who was baling his third cutting of alfalfa. Imagine! Baling hay on October 29! Biking and baling imply summer; surely this was the last ride of ’06.

But it wasn’t. Sunday broke bright and clear so I biked to church in Bozeman. That afternoon, as I was out checking our gates on Cottonwood Road, a runner in a T-shirt and shorts approached from the west. We introduced ourselves and talked a while. The runner was Conrad Anker, a professional climber. A friend had dropped him off to run into Bozeman: Conrad was training for the New York marathon. Could life be better? With warming, we’ll experience both favorable and unfavorable outcomes: biking, running in shorts, and getting a third cutting in late October are small blessings suggesting unknown others to follow.

Clearly global warming isn’t all bad; let’s at least recognize and enjoy the benefits while working responsibly to anticipate and counter the costs. Alas, while warming brings shorter ski but longer fire seasons, only a scold condemns those who enjoy warm autumn and precocious spring days.

While I can no longer run, hike, hunt, wade, or walk far, after several surgeries I can ski and bike much as before. The economists’ dictum that substitutes abound is surely true. As warming occurs some will find them. Let’s look, not merely lament.

The coping strategies suggested above are for everyone except the some 1,500 climate scientists in the world with serious credentials. My suggestion to them is to find a good shrink specializing in stress management and pay her a generous retainer. As politics, popular culture, and the scientific process collide, temperature and CO2 levels won’t be the only things going up.