Climate initiatives must continue
The flooding threat to all coastal areas, as reported in the July 21 AJC article “Coastal residents scramble to adapt as flood risks rise,” is a clear sign of the effect of climate change on our state.
I feel strongly about this issue. Whereas former President Donald Trump took us backward in addressing it, the current administration has initiated multiple programs to help us become more responsive. Some of these include investing in solar energy and electric cars, the American Climate Corps to educate future leaders, resilience and adaptation incentives and supporting farmers using climate-smart practices and systems. These programs are tackling clean air, water and energy, but we have a long way to go to keep our country habitable for our grandchildren and heal the damage already done.
We are drowning, and we must support these efforts to keep us alive.
KAREN EVANS, ATLANTA
Higher flood insurance is price of changing climate
Flood insurance is important to the subject matter of the July 21 AJC article “Coastal residents scramble to adapt as flood risks rise.” Mention of it was limited to two paragraphs at the end of the lengthy story. One insurer discontinued flood insurance on Tybee Island, and the cost of a policy with a different insurer was 15% higher.
The General Assembly should take action instead of waiting until the private flood insurance market collapses, as is occurring in Florida. Two months ago, Florida’s reaction was to eliminate climate change in state statutes and encourage the use of natural gas to generate electricity.
Climate change should be considered by coastal Georgia residents in November. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, has said that global warming is a Chinese hoax. Through the Agriculture Department, the Trump administration banned the terms “climate change” and “reduce greenhouse gases.”
Climate change still isn’t a GOP concern. The GOP’s recently adopted platform makes no mention of it. Indeed, the platform advocates “drill, baby, drill” and would cancel electric vehicle incentives that discourage greenhouse gas emissions in transportation.
DAVID BEARSE, ATLANTA
