From: Michael Greven
Columbus
The fires in the west have made it even more clear that climate change is a reality we need to recognize and address. Millions of acres burnt, countless lives lost and economic ruin for entire regions of our country are an unacceptable norm for our nation, or for that matter the world.
Unique to the USA is our unquestioned leadership in the world. If the USA had chosen to define the means to solving climate change, the world would have likely followed. If the USA had chosen to define how we best manage the oceans, the world would have likely followed.
Regrettably, under Trump, we have abdicated our position as a leader on meeting the challenge of climate change.
Let me make that statement one more time for clarity: We have abdicated our position as the leader on meeting the challenge of climate change in the world.
No matter if you are Republican or Democrat, climate change denier or far-left-leaning environmentalist, abdicating the leadership role in defining an issue for our nation — or for the world — is poor planning and weak leadership.
The USA can not solve its environmental challenges without the participation of the rest of the nations of the world.
What good does it do us if we reduce our pollution, but in Kazakhstan and Indonesia they pollute like there is no tomorrow? Not a whit.
Climate change is a global concern and demands leadership that thinks and leads globally.
The Trump team has walked away from one international accord after another because Trump feels that they do not serve the needs of the U.S.
One of the critical accords is the Paris Climate Agreement…and the USA is not participating in it. Give me a daggum break! How can we as a nation have walked away from leading this effort?
If you are not leading you are behind. One would have thought the Trump team would recognize that.
At home, we have eviscerated the EPA and are opening the doors to drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Do we need the oil that bad that we need to ruin a pristine wilderness for it? No, we absolutely do not as the price at the pump clearly indicates.
The Trump team, in their clear ineptitude, has also rolled back protections in the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. This is legislation that was hard-fought from the 70s to 90s when our rivers burned and our air was foul and laden with countless harmful substances.
Republicans and Democrats alike were champions of these efforts.
We as a nation cannot afford to go backward — unless you want your children and grandchildren to endure numerous health issues.
I, for one, do not want that.
We need environmental vision and leadership. This earth is a God-given paradise that is ours to respect and preserve for future generations.
Regrettably, the Trump/Pence team fails miserably at providing that leadership. It is time for reflection and action.
Editor’s note: This letter is paid political content. It is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
