We have only one Earth; let’s not ruin it

Dear Editor: Many people told me at my recent retirement dinner at the church I serve that they have appreciated the letters I’ve sent to the newspaper about global climate change. They said they would miss seeing them. I promised I would not stop sending such letters, even after my wife Mary and I move to Maine.

Here’s how I begin to keep my promise.

Scientists have recently reported that, for the first time in keeping such records, the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere has exceeded 400 parts per million. But what do they know? They’re just scientists, after all. Many conservative politicians running for office begin their climate change denial speeches by saying, “I’m no scientist, but ... ” Then they claim to know better that scientists.

It doesn’t change things if we keep fracking and keep drilling and keep trucking and keep putting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, they say, as the climate will self-adjust.

It has been stated by most, if not all scientists, that if we go past a certain line in the sand regarding sending carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, we might very well have gone too far. And Mother Earth doesn’t listen to politicians.

I heard a report recently that many people on Long Island are having their houses near the shore jacked up. They must be paying for that out of their own pockets. Why would they do that? Fear of rising flood waters, one would guess. Why would they fear rising flood waters? Rising ocean levels, one would guess. Why would ocean levels rise? Global climate change, one would guess. These are people of means who can afford to take necessary action. What do poor people living near rising waters do? They move to higher ground, or they drown.

The pope will be coming to the United States for a visit soon. He’s one of many people of faith who believe we are obliged to be environmental stewards. This Earth is our home, but it doesn’t belong to us. We aren’t Earth’s homeowners. We rent space here. The landlord may well choose to evict us, with another big flood. The landlord promised not to do that to us humans again, but if we bring it on ourselves, it’s not the landlord’s fault, is it?

— Rev. Ed Schreiber, Atonement Lutheran Church, Saugerties