Consider the source

To the Editor:

The affluent, nonprofit organization Climate Intelligence is often cited as an authority by those who claim there is no climate crisis, but a cursory dive reveals it is funded by Charles Koch and other oil billionaires.

The 1,600 scientists making these false statements are connected to those oil financiers. “Climate Intelligence” panders to their funders.

The fox (oil companies) in the hen house (the planet), tells us, “No problem, nothing to see here.”

Compare those 1,600 oil friendly scientists to the hundreds of thousands, or 98%, of the world’s independent scientists who say, “Yes, we do have a serious fossil fuel caused climate crisis.”

Recently several states have joined forces to sue the oil industry. The basis of this lawsuit is recovery for the desecration they caused by the massive, decades-long cover-up denying the lethal impact of its product.

This lawsuit will reveal the colossal cover-up that has been going on since the mid 1960s. It will take years, but it will happen. Just like it did with cigarette companies. Covering up facts with lies is dangerous, and people and corporations who do so must be held accountable.

As fossil fuel cohorts become more panicky, the lies will get more egregious. But the argument that human consumption of oil isn’t causing the climate crisis is over, it’s real and it’s dangerous.

Yes, we need energy. Yes, we do have less harmful ways to produce essential life-sustaining energy. And yes, we need more innovation. And yes, we all agree it’s not enough. Yet.

We will do much better once we start working together and leave that dangerous state of denial.

Patti Cherry

Sonora