Rising tides

In response to Jordan Graham’s article published March 28: Walsh’s stance that combatting climate change is a “non-negotiable” issue is a step in the right direction. It seems that there are two sides to that “challenge.” The first and foremost priority for Walsh should be building infrastructure to ensure that people are safe on an immediate time scale. The fact that the Aquarium MBTA stop was shut down due to rising waters that came with the most recent nor’easter is a warning sign, and the notion of a seawall is an important discussion to have. But whether the city builds a seawall, or undergoes a $2.5 billion retrofitting effort, those measures taken will be Band-Aids patching a dam leak. We can only build our walls so high and our buildings so strong. What the city can do now to help subsequent generations combat this “non-negotiable” issue is endorse the current environmental omnibus bill proposed by Sen. Pacheco.

This burrito bill includes an essential ingredient: carbon pricing. Putting a price on carbon is one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions and take a stand against polluters.

If Boston is serious about combatting climate change, we need to start thinking long term.

Pacheco’s bill could help prevent future generations from spending impossible amounts on augmented walls and retrofitting.

Walsh, you have your head in the right place — this issue is “non-negotiable.” But let’s not forget about our posterity.

— Timothy Patrick Jordan, Boston