State leaders need to get in the ‘mood’ for green transition

In the Bloomberg opinion column “Democracy, climate politics set to collide,” Dec. 26, David Fickling worries that among democracies, “the mood music isn’t positive for climate action.” Politicians do not seem interested in redeeming the giant gift card — in the form of clean, endlessly available, renewable energy — that nature and human ingenuity are offering.

Since turning down this gift puts us on the road to climate disaster, our leaders need to consider who is composing the mood music.

It is not the majority of voters. A recent Pew Research Center survey on Americans’ view of climate change reveals that two-thirds of U.S. adults say the country should prioritize developing renewable energy sources. In both parties, younger respondents express more climate concern than older ones.

The music is not coming from the voters, but from those who have a financial stake in perpetuating fossil fuel production. Last year, the House Committee on Natural Resources issued a report about “ways in which some PR firms use their considerable public-influence expertise to help industry mislead the public and block climate change policy proposals.”

The Hochul administration turned down some offshore wind projects’ requests for inflation-adjusted increases last fall. These projects are vital to reducing our polluting emissions, but their future will be determined when they come back for rebidding in January. As negotiations ensue, let’s hope Gov. Kathy Hochul listens to the mood music coming from her constituents. Elizabeth Poreba

New Lebanon