Can we live up to Obama’s promise?

DONNA ALBERT | Montesano • Published January 28, 2013 Modified January 27, 2013

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The Jan. 19 article in The Olympian “As Tides Creep Up” did not describe other consequences of climate change. This might give the false impression to newspaper readers that sea level rise is the only significant problem of global warming.

By the end of this century, impacts will include extreme drought, famine, floods, species extinction, ocean acidification that alters the ocean food chain, millions of climate refugees, and political instability.

We risk feedback mechanisms such as methane release from melting permafrost, sending warming out of control, with unthinkable consequences. In just a few decades of burning fossil fuels, we will have managed to ruin the fortunes of our grandchildren and all those who follow them.

Are you OK with this? I’m not. I feel responsible. I am responsible.

Global warming is caused by the burning of fossil fuels. I drive a car. I use electricity. President Barack Obama said in his inaugural address, “We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.”

Will we? I hope we are as good as he thinks we are.

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