Act now on climate change

The article “As hot weather sears Spokane, local cooling tricks provide relief” (July 31, 2018) is filled with great tips about staying safe and healthy in the miserable heat. But what it doesn’t talk about is what will happen when summers inevitably grow hotter because of climate change.

Over the next few years, we will watch as summers continue to get hotter for longer, posing a serious threat to people’s health and well-being because of higher rates of illness and death caused by heatstroke, dehydration, aggravated chronic conditions and so on. However, if we act now to significantly decrease our greenhouse gas emissions, we can avoid the bulk of these effects.

Right now, Environment Washington and its national partner, Environment America, are working to move colleges and universities to 100 percent renewable energy, which will substantially decrease the amount of energy consumed by the commercial sector. Moreover, as sites of education, research and innovation, campuses are perfect for this transition which will demonstrate their commitment to their students’ futures.

With colleges and universities in the lead, we have the capacity to protect our world. Why wait any longer to act?

Audrey Davis

Seattle