As I read about the coming crisis I have come to realize it’s increasingly inevitable a serious climate emergency is going to hit us. When it does it will be too late to do anything but triage and remedy what we can. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do anything now. The more done sooner, the less we’ll have to do later. I have some thoughts about some actions other than several excellent articles already in the Gazette, about what can be done locally:

First, remember to focus on the real problem. (climate change) and not get side-tracked into tangents like gender identity or excessive fear of catching Covid, as important as they may actually be. It was unbelievable to hear the finalist for new superintendent of schools in Easthampton was nixed for addressing his future co-workers as “Ladies.” Every declining society throughout history has started fighting among themselves and that is a good example.

Second, we all need to be realistic about our future. A lot of the privileges and comforts will have to be given up and the sooner we start living a simpler, less materialistic lifestyle the better we’ll all be. Becoming personally carbon neutral is a big part of that. Examples we can all do on our own might be driving only when necessary or ride bicycles, buying less, donating extra money to climate-active organizations, making do with left-over things, etc. We’ll have to get used to living in colder houses, composting our food scraps, drying clothes on a line, etc. One of the main reasons landfills produce so much methane (many times more heat producing than CO2) is the throwaway food we buy and then don’t eat.

Third: It’s almost boring to hear but write our congressmen and congresswomen and vote for those who push climate action. And let’s all agitate for more and real recycling. Nothing will really get done on the global scale that is necessary to tackle this global problem, without government involvement. If one business goes “green,” another three or four won’t unless our rule of law makes them. I know a lot of people don’t trust government activity, but in this case, nothing substantial will happen without it.

At this point a major climate crisis is going to happen. Please let’s be active and realistic to avoid a real catastrophe.

Henry Canby

Leeds

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