To the editor: Most Californians are clever to understand we’re in hassle, however will we take sufficient motion with coverage to forestall a harmful future? (“Majority of Californians concern worsening climate swings as a consequence of local weather change, ballot finds,” June 1, and “Earth is ‘actually fairly sick now’ and in peril zone in practically all ecological methods, examine says,” Might 31)
Having grown up within the South, the place environmental coverage just isn’t even a bump within the highway to forestall the bulldozing of nature, I’m so grateful to be an environmental lawyer in California, the place we will make progressive insurance policies that set the usual for our nation.
Our automobile emission requirements and gasoline effectivity necessities, which the Trump and George W. Bush administrations each fought, have moved America ahead. We’re the fifth-largest financial system on this planet, and automobile producers need to deal with California requirements.
However California nonetheless has an extended solution to go to make sure a livable future. Though our air high quality has improved, regardless of large inhabitants development and extra autos on the highway, our air air pollution remains to be the worst within the nation.
We now have one planet. Let’s comply with preserve it liveable and spend money on extra options, no more air pollution.
Lisa Boyle, Pacific Palisades
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To the editor: Your side-by-side articles are scary, however they solely trace at our predicament.
In 40 years there could also be 2 billion extra folks on Earth. Our already sizzling world (with 1 diploma Celsius of warming) will probably be hotter (with 2 levels of warming). The poles are warming a lot quicker.
Water will probably be extra useful than oil because the glaciers soften and water tables are depleted. Fertile soil will probably be more durable to seek out, and fertilizer run-offs will create extra useless zones alongside the coasts.
Droughts, floods and wildfires will enhance. Rainforests and coral reefs will probably be misplaced, together with their organic variety. The rice-producing Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam will probably be poisoned by saltwater intrusion. Equatorial areas will probably be too sizzling for folks to reside, forcing a tsunami of migrating folks, together with migrating infectious ailments.
Our scary issues will grow to be our youngsters’s and grandchildren’s terrifying issues. What we do now decides their future.
Phil Beauchamp, Chino Hills
