The costs of inaction

Re: “Disasters increasing in Colorado,” April 19 letter to the editor

I was surprised to read home insurance premiums would be rising for Colorado residents by 12% because of the rapid increase in climate-related disasters, mainly droughts and wildfires.

I was also surprised to read that Colorado has more natural disasters now than Florida (in the last 20 years)!

Though I love the warmer weather, I dread the wildfire season approaching in southwest Colorado. Our 22-year megadrought threatens our economy, especially in agriculture and tourism. Add that loss of revenue to the billions of tax dollars spent to fight wildfires plus higher insurance premiums, and you have an equation where addressing the source of the problem, carbon pollution, is a no-brainer.

Our economic health depends on accelerating our transition to an independent clean energy economy. I urge all our representatives to support legislation that comes before Congress aimed at developing and integrating U.S. clean energy technologies.

Susan Atkinson, Durango

As the implications of climate change worsen every day, insurance and housing prices will only continue to increase.

Now, how is Denver going to respond to the increase in natural disasters fueled by climate change? This issue will be exacerbated, if Colorado officials are not going to act.

It feels as if we are putting a BandAid on the problem by increasing housing insurance premiums to 12%. I do believe this is one step closer to Colorado officials and business owners addressing the larger issue at hand by acknowledging that the number of natural disasters will only increase, but this is not a fix to the devastating problem at all.

Legislators, business owners and residents of Colorado need to come together to incorporate more clean energy, regenerative and sustainable buildings, and ensure everyone is knowledgeable on climate change.

Climate change cannot be solved alone. We need to work together urgently to mitigate the number of natural disasters in the state by incorporating green, sustainable energy and questioning businesses with unethical and non-eco-friendly practices. We must act now and hold each other accountable, or else premiums will continue to increase each year.

Tori Everson, Denver