Dear Editor,
The recent withdrawal from the Paris Accord on Climate Change, by the white elephant in the room more commonly known as Donald Trump, has only proven himself to be a monumental demonstration of ignorance.
Absurd claims and false and misleading statements, such as financial and economic burdens on the U.S. economy, and irrational fears that it favours competing nations, are not the type of statements one would expect from the leader of the free world.
However, this agreement was signed by almost every nation in the world, including China and India, who are far more economically challenged, but who sanely agree that this issue must be dealt with before greenhouse gas emissions exceed beyond a level to which human society can adapt. Without this agreement, continued climate chaos is a real risk, with even more severity in the future.
Disregarding scientific warnings, we risk exceeding greenhouse gas emissions to beyond a level where our human society can sustain life. Warming and acidifying oceans are going to begin releasing vast amounts of methane that are currently frozen in Arctic waters.
This potent greenhouse gas could take us into an unknown area where human life may not be sustainable. But giving up hope is not an option.
Fortunately, we are all in this together, as it’s a common enemy all nations face, including the U.S., with or without the American president. Unfortunately, ecological issues know no boundaries. We can draw imaginary lines all over the planet, but the oceans and wildlife don’t care.
Weather patterns will do as they please. These lines mean absolutely nothing to the liveability of the planet. Suing Russia and Japan won’t stop Chernobyl and Fukushima from haunting us for centuries.
Inevitably, it all comes down to protecting the biosphere, that thin layer of air, water, and soil within a few miles, in both directions, of sea level. Severe climate change could very well alter it, to an unsustainable and unliveable condition.
Continuing on with our carbon economy is not only adding to an unhealthy balance of carbon in our atmosphere, and fuelling catastrophic climate change; it may well be self-propelled genocide. Is it really worth taking that chance?
We continue to subsidize the fossil fuel industry, because without the subsidy it would collapse. We are subsidizing an economic nemesis that is physically killing us to create taxpayer-subsidized jobs.
There is no need to continue on down this path, especially when all the technology now exists for the conversion to clean and renewable energy systems. The greatest economic catalyst the world will ever see is the conversion to clean and renewable energy. Imagine growing the economy and cleaning the planet at the same time.
There are really no other options. On the bright side, because of the white elephant in the U.S., states, cities, and businesses are now coming to the forefront and implementing their own policies and procedures to help battle this impending dilemma. It’s time for action on climate, instead of growing industry that, in the long term, represents more harm than good, and is in no one’s future interest.
Arthur Green
Hope, B.C.