We need a livable planet

I noticed the stunning contrast between Larry Schweiger’s op-ed on climate change (”Our Two Worlds are Colliding”) and Morgan O’Brien and Stacey Olsen’s op-ed on natural gas expansion (”We Need to Energize Pennsylvania’s Economy”) in the Nov. 25 Forum section.

Immediately after reading about the record-breaking fires in California, I turned the page to discover a plea by two business leaders to double down on fossil fuels. If this investment in natural gas infrastructure occurs, it will only exacerbate climate damages, such as those that we are witnessing in California.

As an economics major at the University of Pittsburgh, I found the economic claims of Mr. O’Brien perplexing. He and Ms. Olson, of Chevron Appalachia, cite an econometric review pointing to “$60 billion in GDP growth, about 100,000 jobs and billions in revenue to the state treasury” as a result of natural gas development. Yet the authors omit discussion of the major climate report issued by the government on Friday. The report says that climate change could eliminate 10 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product by 2100. That translates to an annual loss of hundreds of billions of dollars — more than the current GDP of many U.S. states.

The effects of climate change described in the report overwhelm any positive gains from natural gas. As a young person, I agree with Mr. Schweiger’s claim that “we cannot stop climate change by burning different kinds of fossil fuels.” A future built on natural gas is not compatible with a robust economy and a livable planet.

SAMUEL RESSIN Oakland