Addressing climate change

Thanks to Caroline Woodwell for her guest opinion, “Better Spokane can do better” (Sept. 7). She reminded us that although we were warned 40 years ago about the need to address global warming, we as a nation did very little to try to stop it. Climate change is the result.

As I wrote this letter the Carolinas were expecting a Category 4 hurricane to land and cause disastrous flooding and winds. Fortunately that storm was not here. But what does affect us are wildfires that now surround our area each summer and threaten our health. We’re also becoming more aware that warmer temperatures change the life cycles of insect pests and weeds. This increases the chances for them to weaken trees, damage crops or infect us.

Let us thank our Spokane City Council for voting for 100 percent fossil-free energy. And we in Washington state can vote to cut back the amount of carbon dioxide that is being spewed into our atmosphere and warming our planet. We can vote yes on Initiative 1631 which will finally require those industries that are most heavily polluting our environment to pay for their contamination of our home.

Pauline Druffell

Spokane