Climate change is an existential threat. The Government Accountability Offices states that climate-related changes have cost American taxpayers $350 billion over the past decade. The Pentagon has declared climate change to be a national security threat. The U.N. states that if global greenhouse gas emissions are not halved by 2030, the world will be on a path to catastrophic climate change by 2100. Moody’s Analytics estimates that if we continue our current emission pathway with no reductions, then climate change will do $69 trillion in damage to the world economy by 2100.

The cost of our inaction will be passed to our children and grandchildren in our communities, who will experience a decreased quality of life.

The Build Back Better bill aims to invest $550 billion over 10 years in climate-related efforts to help cut carbon emissions. If this fails, will we have any action under Republicans to address climate change?

Addressing climate change isn’t about saving the planet — it’s about saving our global economy and society, so our children are left with something else besides a distressed world. It’s about saving ourselves. And that’s a cost worth bearing, no matter what the price. Time is running out.

Ryan Rauch

Bridgeville

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