To: The United States House of Representatives
Political leaders need to get serious about climate protection
Congress should conduct very public hearings on climate change. Hear from experts in academia (nationally recognized scientists from major research universities), and federal agencies (NOAA, Agriculture, Forestry, Fish and Wildlife, EPA). Ascertain the magnitude of the problem, causes, strategies to address problems, and time frames that reflect the urgency of the situation. Given the increasing frequency and ominous magnitude of extreme weather events (droughts, floods, hurricanes, blizzards) and related disasters (crop failures, dying forests, refugees from ecological disaster areas, etc.) it appears that time runs short.
Why is this important?
Extreme weather events have affected all regions of the country, and probably the planet: 2011 drought in Texas, 2012 drought in major grain-growing regions, "Superstorm Sandy," melting permafrost generating methane, temperature anomalies wreaking havoc on fruit production, bark beetles destroying coniferous forests in Texas, Canada, Alaska, and elsewhere.