In his commentary, “Unrealistic beliefs in climate law,” Dec. 11, James E. Hanley warns New Yorkers about the “unrealistic assumptions” in the goals and timetables for the state’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Yet, Hanley ignores one key fact: Based on research from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and others, if we continue to emit greenhouse gasses at our current rate, we face “ecosystem collapse from which there is no return.”
Who can blame him for ignoring that fact? It’s large, complicated and hard for many to accept that business-as-usual is leading us to community and economic destruction.
Ecosystem collapse is not just an abstract term. The ecosystem that sustains all life is also the foundation for a thriving economy, including healthy food, clean water and the man-made infrastructure that supports modern life, including our buildings, roads and bridges.
Violent storms will become more frequent and more destructive as our ecosystem collapses into imbalance and extreme weather events. The recent tornadoes that hit Kentucky exemplify ecosystem collapse. For hundreds of victims from these storms, there is no return. For thousands of survivors, there is economic ruin. This becomes the new normal for all of us if we don’t fight for a better future for our children and grandchildren.
Hanley’s faulty logic leads to unmitigated climate disaster. Let’s rebrand what Hanley calls “unrealistic assumptions” as “pragmatic aspirations.” Or perhaps we just ask ourselves a simple question: Can we afford not to do it?
And then we need to get to work.
William Reinhardt
Slingerlands
Albany County Legislator, District 33; Chair of the Conservation, Sustainability and Green Initiatives Committee;
Co-Director, Solarize Albany
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