COVID-19 offers a lesson for climate change. Early warnings of the pandemic went unheeded, and thousands are losing their lives. Due to the virus, our economy is unstable and the supply of food and basic supplies in jeopardy. People are dying while we try to play catchup.
Rather than call it a hoax, there were things we could have done to prepare, just as now is the time to attack global warming. Limiting the burning of fossil fuels is one of the most effective ways. Coal burning power plants and the transportation sector are the two largest producers of carbon. Using fewer fossil fuels improves the environment and air quality. But once again, rather than take action to mitigate the damage, Trump increases support for fossil fuel/coal production and rolls back vehicle emission standards. Those standards improved Utah’s air quality and saved taxpayers thousands in gas purchases.
As we race to develop a vaccine, we should also race toward scientific, proven methods to decrease global warming and not eviscerate the effective programs in place. The pandemic offers a stark lesson.
Patricia Becnel, Ogden