Lawmakers, make climate bills a priority

The long-awaited state budget has passed. This big news should bring a sigh of relief. But for the plethora of folks across the state who have called for laws to keep dangerous fossil fuels in the ground, this budget is a huge disappointment.

Recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are projecting horrific conditions on our planet if we fail to transition away from fossil fuels. These fuels produce greenhouse gases when they are extracted, transported and burned for energy. These gases destabilize our climate, and fossil fuel toxins adversely affect human health and pollute air, water and soil.

Fossil fuels are at the heart of our dangerously disrupted climate. We must transition to renewable energy, eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, divest from these dirty investments and move to electrify buildings and transportation. We need to make these changes now. The good news is that there are bills pending in the state Legislature that call for the above actions. We must press our legislators to pass these vital bills now.

Sally Courtright

Loudonville