Imperative to take climate action now

Most of my life I have lived close to the Hudson River or its tributary, the Mohawk. I have always been in awe of the power of these rivers. The article "As Hudson River rises, impact will be universal," April 10, points out the significant implications of water level rise.

The article also mentions the diverse reactions to this inevitability. Some communities along the Hudson have done nothing to prepare for water level rise while others are actively planning. Waterfronts are being reconceptualized and amphibious parks are being designed.

Poughkeepsie has cut its water use by 35 percent since 1989 by installing smart-meter leak-prevention systems while consumers have adopted smart technology such as low-flow toilets. I mention these efforts because water is perhaps our most precious resource, essential to human life, and at the same time a potentially destructive force. As the Hudson rises, the salt level is moving north, threatening the water source for several communities.

I want to urge citizens to pay attention to the Climate Action Council's draft scoping plan, which lays out ways for us to cope with climate change. The plan is now available for public comment. Rather than throwing up our hands at problems that seem intractable, or trying to ignore them, there still is time to devise actions that make sense. It is imperative that we take action now.

Lois Porter

Schenectady