Climate solutions needed

“So how do we respond to Harvey’s devastation? First, by helping the victims. But then let’s move quickly to a discussion of the impact of development and how we can do it smarter. And to a discussion of how we deal with climate change and its effects. Harvey shows us that such discussions and a consensus on what to do are long overdue” (“How we can respond,” Journal Sentinel editorial, Aug. 30).

Thank you, Journal Sentinel for your righton analysis. Texas and the federal government need to understand that laissez-faire government policy does not serve us well and costs taxpayers a lot of money. Certainly, Harvey would be devastating even if Houston had a strong urban planning history and the United States had addressed the root causes of climate change decades ago, but I believe that the impact and the suffering would be much less.

Let us, as the U.S. government, tie Harvey assistance to two requirements: 1) Texas rebuild in harmony with the natural services that a robust ecosystem provides, and 2) more important, the United States convert to clean energy through an equitable fee on fossil fuels that protect our most vulnerable citizens economically.

We have solutions. Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Paul Ryan, please work to save taxpayer money. Now is the time to implement climate solutions.

Lawrence Hands Madison