Letter: We Must Act Now to Address Climate Change

I am writing to express my concern about the imminent threat climate change poses to our world, our country, and our children’s future.

More than 2,000 scientists contributing to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) agree that climate change is occurring much faster than predicted. They make it clear that we have only a few critical years to protect our children from paying the truly outrageous costs, if our generation does nothing. A 50% to 70% cut in global greenhouse gas emissions is necessary to stabilize our climate. All governments, including ours, should make every effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – now.

We must:

1. Reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal;
2. Reduce emissions in the transport sector;
3. Expand funding for alternative and renewable energy technology;
4. Increase incentives for the uptake of renewable energy; and
5. Remove subsidies for fossil-based fuel sources.

Our fossil fuel addiction harms human health, causes global warming, degrades land and marine ecosystems and pollutes the earth. We need energy systems that provide clean, renewable and reliable energy that does not threaten human health or the environment.

We cannot wait. We must take strong action now to address the climate crisis, to secure a future for our nation and our children and to set a new and positive direction for a national energy policy that leads our nation away from fossil-based fuels.

Last summer, Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, climate hero, took time off school to demonstrate outside parliament demanding bold climate action. Her actions raised world-wide awareness of the critical need for changes – now. She inspired the upcoming International Climate Strike. 

Please join us Sept. 20 for our local Intergenerational Climate Strike: Heritage Square, in downtown Altoona, noon to 1:30 p.m.. 

Please support this important effort to raise awareness and promote policies that will save our children and grandchildren. We can create a sustainable future. It is our moral responsibility.

Jane Petroski