Only an intensive effort will ward off perilous climate change

Mona Charen’s piece on the fact that attention to climate change — which she dubs “hysteria” — will not solve our problems is totally wrong. “Hysteria” is the only thing that will solve our problem!

Climate change is slow, and not apparent from day to day, so it’s hard to whip up interest in making financial and convenience sacrifices in order to stop emitting greenhouse gases. But as recent hurricanes, fires and floods have shown, the planet, i.e., our very existence — is in peril.

Al Gore’s efforts to “sow panic” were not enough! We haven’t heeded the call of scientific proof that if we heedlessly burn fossil fuels, we’ll have cataclysmic weather events, droughts, i.e., loss of food production, limited available fresh water, and sea level rise that will flood major cities. Do we want to leave this chaotic and dangerous state of being to our children and grandchildren?

Ms. Charen also derides the loss of nuclear power. She forgets Fukushima, et al. and the fact that there is no safe place to store the nuclear waste that remains radioactive for centuries.

We do have options — natural gas, as a bridge, to viable solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal and wave power. Developing these sources of clean, renewable energy provides jobs, cleaner air and water, healthier soil, and SAVES THE PLANET.

Too bad we don’t have a president who understands the concept of the greater good.

Carol Kraines, Deerfield