I do not know the author of “The Sea is Boiling,” Sept. 14. I imagine we would get along, as I share the same concerns about climate change. The small actions suggested are all good ideas, as we must all do something to steer us from disaster.
But I was struck that the writer has visited “her reef” every year for the last 15 years. Unless they sailed, powered by wind, I expect they flew. Fifteen round trips by fossil-fueled jets created a huge amount of CO2 emissions that each passenger bears responsibility for.
The vast majority of people never fly, nor travel far from home. Most people have less and live simpler lives and are responsible for far fewer emissions than those who fly regularly, either for business or pleasure. Most people of means are not willing to reduce their consumption, and our capitalistic economy would not be pleased if they did.
As Wendell Berry said, “We must all learn to live more simply.”
Christine Mulholland
San Luis Obispo
This article appears in Sep 21 – Oct 1, 2023.
“We must all learn to live more simply.”
Not a solution. First world nations don’t want to hear this. Besides, we have the technology to overcome climate change. A Tesla Semi can travel over 700 miles with just one 2-hour charge, the number of battery-electric vehicles on the road increases exponentially every year, zero-emission hydrogen has shown all sorts of potential, one wind farm off the coast can deliver the same amount of energy as a nuclear power plant, etc., etc., etc.
The only thing we need is the will to get it done and not be dragged back by the fossil fuel industry. They are the chief impediment between America’s renewable energy freedom and gridlock, which is precisely what we see in D.C. right now as a completely dysfunctional Republican majority in the House seeks to shut down the government and in the process shutting down important infrastructure and green energy projects across the nation.