To the editor: I deeply appreciate that Nils Gilman has raised the very important point about what is at stake in this election. Even if former President Trump wins and dismantles democracy in this country, it could still theoretically be restored one day, but not so in the case of the climate. (“Trump 2.0 would be a disaster for the climate,” Opinion, July 30)
But I think that, on one point, your premise is actually too optimistic.
Climate scientists tell us that if we want to avoid the most catastrophic consequences of climate change, we have only a few years to take drastic measures to reduce carbon emissions. Doing nothing, maintaining the status quo, will bring catastrophe because of what we have done in the past.
So just imagine what four years of “drill, dance, shine” will bring.
Focusing on how Trump could cripple our ability to address climate change after his term seems almost irrelevant. Catastrophe would, literally speaking, already be underway and there would be no possible way to stop it. Large parts of the planet would become uninhabitable.
Steven Schechter, Thousand Oaks
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To the editor: There are many differences between Republicans and Democrats, but when it comes to climate, the differences are especially marked.
Trump and the Republican Party’s mantra, “drill, drill, drill,” reflects their commitment to the fossil fuel industry. They will continue to support coal, oil and gas and delay the transition to clean energy, even as scientists warn that the illness, death and destruction these fuels cause is becoming catastrophic and irreversible.
The climate crisis is a fossil fuel crisis. About 75% of the heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions that are overheating our planet come from burning fossil fuels. Trump and his party want to keep burning them. Democrats and other sensible people want to phase them out before their impacts overwhelm us.
Today, clean, renewable energy is available. The only obstacles to solving the climate crisis are politics and an entrenched fossil fuel industry.
Rejecting Trump in November is our best hope.
Robert Taylor, Santa Barbara
