Earth Day no party for strapped planet

Earth Day was not a happy day for our Earth. Our Earth’s temperature is rising. The oceans are filling with plastic. We are ignoring our future. But while the Earth is having problems we are removing many of our environmental regulations intended to protect the planet. We are reducing the size of lands set aside to protect the environment. We are removing decades of environmental law.

Many species are being driven to destruction. Changes in temperatures are impacting animals from polar bears to migratory birds. Our oceans are becoming acidic because of too much carbon.

We in South Florida are more at risk. Evidence that Greenland’s glaciers are melting at a faster rate could significantly raise our sea levels. Right now, the oceans are picking up much of the increased carbon. Levels of carbon that we now see have raised ocean levels 100 feet during past geologic periods. There is also extensive noise pollution that is harming fish and marine mammals. Offshore seismic blasts used to prospect for oil have the potential to kill 100,000 marine animals.

What do we need to do? Reduce fossil fuel use with more electric vehicles, more solar and more energy conservation, and restore our native tree canopy because current ordinances permit the removal of too many native trees, impacting climate and migrating birds. DREW MARTIN, LAKE WORTH Editor’s note: Drew Martin is conservation chairman for the Loxahatchee Group Sierra Club.