To the editor:

It’s time America got serious about environmental issues. When researchers informed us several years ago that global warming was a real threat and that extreme weather conditions would accompany climate change, many U.S. legislators ignored these warnings. They labeled these comments as outrageous rhetoric by a bunch of fear-mongering scientists who were attempting to gain funding for worthless research.

Now that America is experiencing the very types of weather patterns researchers predicted, you would assume this would temper voices of ignorance. However, instead of yielding to reality and admitting we have a major crisis on our hands we concede only half way. We acknowledge that climate change is occurring but that our contribution is insignificant. Or, even worse, we understand that we have a major part to play in this cataclysmic disaster but we lack the initiative to push for real change.

As long as America continues to withhold support for lower carbon emission standards, prevent legislation that would support funding for renewable energy, allow big oil to rule over our best interest and elect legislators who could not pass a high school chemistry course, then what chance do we have?