Public wants climate action

Mark Gongloff’s Jan. 31 column “Election might turn on

... climate change?” was interesting, stating that support for the climate fight runs deeper in this country than many people — especially Republican leaders — might think. This opinion is supported by a long-range program from the Yale University School of the Environment, which since 2008 has conducted the Yale Program for Climate Change Communication, consisting of annual interviews with a cross-section Americans on climate issues.

Its 2023 report shows that an estimated 72% of adults think global warming is happening. Those who believe it is caused mostly by human activity is

58%, followed by 63% believing it affects the weather, 70% that it harms plants, animals and future generations, 58% that it already harms people here, and 67% that it harms people in developing countries. These numbers show steady increases over the years.

Further, the report shows that most registered voters, including many Republicans, support climate-friendly energy policies and favor clean energy development to grow the economy and create jobs.

Perhaps this is falling on deaf ears in Congress, as elected leaders are too busy with infighting and pursuing futile impeachments to concern themselves with what the public supports. They are ignoring the strong call to action for robust bipartisan climate legislation. Perhaps when the costs of human lives, property damage, ecosystem destruction and more become impossible to ignore, these so-called leaders will be compelled to act, when unfortunately it may be too little, too late.

Rita Ransom, Las Vegas