Want to fight climate change? Nuclear power is one solution.

Mark A. Boyer’s op-ed piece [Sept 27, courant.com, “With everything else going wrong, the climate crisis is being downplayed. But it’s the most important thing”] makes some key points. I agree with his premise that there is a strong scientific basis for global warming even if I disagree with his characterization of “willful ignorance” and “Pollyannaish” views on the part of many government officials. Such inflammatory remarks do nothing to address the underlying problem.

Some years ago, a young person representing an environmental organization knocked on my door. After hearing her views on global warming, I asked her whether climate change was the most pressing issue facing us and that we must do everything and anything to address greenhouse gas emissions. She said “Yes.” I then asked her if she favored the continued operation of nuclear power plants because they are the single largest source of electricity that does not emit greenhouse gases. She said “No,” to which I replied “then you are not serious about doing everything and anything.”

While wildfires rage on the West Coast, the state of California hypocritically continues with its plans to phase out the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant that generates over 2,000 MW of power 24/ 7 without greenhouse gas emissions.

Until such time as the broader environmental and political communities recognize the important role of nuclear power as one means of addressing climate change, much of the public will not heed the warnings from the likes of Professor Boyer.

Donald A. Dube, Farmington