Letter: U.S. stance on climate will ruin our economy

Saturday December 30, 2017

Editor:

​On Nov. 7, the Syrian government signed onto the Paris Climate Accord, thus leaving the United States the only country in the world opposed to the agreement. This has led to major repercussions.

The impact of this decision was evident when I attended a November international climate change conference in Bonn, Germany. Delegates from U.S. cities and states were committed to upholding the accord while Trump administration delegates had their own agenda.

Lately I've asked myself several times whether it's climate denial or denial of the future. The administration has stated that pulling out of the accord was the right decision. Instead, it will have a major impact on our economy.

As we fail to address climate change we fail to address the future. That future is in the green economy. Major institutions such as the World Bank and ING announced Dec. 12 that billions of dollars would be divested from fossil fuels.

By failing to address climate change we are committing ourselves to economic suicide because our nation will have to play catch-up and be noncompetitive in the world.

We need to take part in and educate the next generation about the green economy. Are we going to teach our young people that there is still a chance in a dying industry and deny them an opportunity for a real future? What are we going to do to address this issue, especially here in Berks County?


Shana M. Rose
Lower Alsace Township
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U.S. stance of climate will ruin our economy