Thank you for the articles on the Doomsday Clock and the drought in Ethiopia (Herald, Jan. 29).
The Doomsday Clock takes into account nuclear weapons, climate change, emerging biotechnologies and cybertechnology in calculating how close we are to causing irrevocable harm. Climate change has been causing many changes in weather, such as the increased drought in Ethopia and other parts of Africa. People unable to provide for their families move, looking for better opportunities, adding to the war-related refugee crisis impacting Europe and the U.S.
Sea-level rise has already started to impact cities on the East Coast, especially in Florida; this will have an economic impact across the country. Granted, we in Colorado are not directly affected by sea-level rise, but I, and perhaps some of you, have family in Florida who are being impacted.
We need to move to a more sustainable way to keep our comfortable way of life, including our electronic gadgets (count me guilty here).
Moving to renewable energy will provide jobs in an area of technology that is growing. Adding a fee to those industries that generate carbon will encourage growth in renewables, and returning those dividends to the American public will offset higher prices, and as a side benefit, will encourage us all to be more thoughtful in our energy use. (For more information about carbon fee and dividends, please see citizensclimatelobby.org.)
As the Doomsday Clock demonstrates, we are moving closer to irreparable harm and don’t have much time. Rep. Scott Tipton, please join Rep. Curbello’s Climate Solutions Caucus in the House and add to the effort to combat climate change.
Sen. Cory Gardner, please support legislation to combat climate change on the Senate side.
Janet Dahlquist
Durango
