What are you doing to address climate change?

Re: “What Big Oil knew about climate change, in its own words,” Oct. 31 commentary

Sunday’s op-ed by Benjamin Franta was an eye-opener for anyone concerned about climate change. We have heard the words before, but it’s good to see them tied together in such an effective manner. One of the headlines in this morning’s paper, “Interior to move ahead with (oil and gas) lease sales on public lands,” along with COP26 summit news has me wondering: If we don’t make changes now, when will we? It is an inconvenient truth that we are using fossil fuels to phase ourselves out of existence. When does the priority for survival trump the priority for profits? Maybe it’s time, with these truths evident, for us to ask what we can do to help make a difference. How about some news of how we can individually pitch in to help slow/stop the change? Thanks for your coverage!

Carol O’brien, Lakewood

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We can appreciate the author’s dedication and fortitude in delving into the who knew what and when at major oil companies. Nonetheless, what we know now and what we have known but have chosen to dispute or ignore for years (if not decades) is more important.

It has been scientifically studied and announced for many years that the earth is warming due to human production and burning of fossil fuels. What have individuals done to avoid the looming climatic catastrophe? Little or nothing. The bigger issue is not what for-profit corporations, or the president, or Congress, or the United Nations, or China or Brazil or (insert name or organization here) has done or should do to avoid the approaching calamity. It’s easiest to expect someone else to do the lifting. The question is, what have you and I as individuals done? What sacrifice are you and I willing to make to our standard of living to try and forestall the environmental and societal collapse that our children almost certainly will be subjected to. It is painfully obvious that we care more about our sports teams than the fragile planet we call home. Try dragging your face away from your phone for 10 minutes and think about it, and then do something!

Martin Orner, Longmont