Letter to the editor: Resolve to take climate action

The new year is a time to reflect on the past year and decide what to change. 2023 was the hottest year on record. Antarctic sea ice hit a record low. Historic wildfires in Canada kept Pittsburghers indoors with a code red air quality alert. Phoenix suffered a record-­shattering heat wave. As we keep burning fossil fuels, these effects will only intensify and happen more frequently.

Given the climate effects we are seeing now, we need to work with urgency to keep our world safe for us, our kids and our grandkids. We have a stark choice between a new, healthy, clean-­energy economy and an old, dirty, fossil-fueled economy. We can rebuild our energy economy around healthy solar and wind, switch to electric vehicles and make our homes more energy efficient — saving money and increasing comfort. Conversely, we can hold onto fossil fuels, which, according to the Harvard School of Public Health, “create climate change and release pollutants that lead to early death, heart attacks, respiratory disorders, stroke, asthma, and absenteeism at school and work. It has also been linked to autism spectrum disorder and Alzheimer’s disease.”

This year, resolve to work for legislation to improve our health and the health of our fevered planet. Citizens’ Climate Lobby uses the five levers of political power to urge Congress to work on bipartisan climate solutions. Want to learn more? Join our free introductory call held every Wednesday evening. Sign up at cclusa.org/intro.

Dana Siler

Squirrel Hill The writer is co-group leader of the Pittsburgh chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.