A recent letter to The Tribune warns that efforts to stop catastrophic climate change are futile. So just sit back and accept our species’ extinction, we are urged.
Actually, rumors of humanity’s upcoming demise are greatly exaggerated.
While climate impacts are already showing up — including drought and filthy, smoky air — we do have time to stave off more severe effects, and can avoid a catastrophic future.
Texas Tech climatologist Katharine Hayhoe reports in her book, “Saving Us” that while most people think we are at the bottom of a hill pushing a boulder up, we are actually at the top of the hill beginning to roll the boulder down.
For instance, one study finds that solar, wind and geothermal could be readily implemented to decarbonize electricity, with the US power grid becoming 90% renewable by 2035 at no net cost, says Hayhoe. Better still, electricity costs would be reduced by 13% on average, and the transition would avert $1.2 trillion in health and environmental damage, she adds.
Or, biofuels made from agricultural waste are carbon neutral and can provide fuel without modifying conventional engines.
Hydrogen and newer, cleaner and safer nuclear are a couple of other options, among many.
We have the tools to halt further climate damage. We just need the public and political will to make it happen.
Georgia Platts, South Jordan
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