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Media’s scientific illiteracy

Tue., Dec. 31, 2019

One of the main dangers facing the planet is the sheer scientific illiteracy of the media.

How can you publish an article on the environmental impact of the liquor industry (“Distillers taking shot at meeting drinking public’s climate concerns,” Dec. 22) and ignore the elephant in the room? Producing a ton of alcohol by fermentation generates about a ton of pure carbon dioxide, which is currently released straight into the atmosphere.

The impact of the drinks industry is small compared with that of fuel ethanol production, but it is still unforgivable and the entire subject would make a good campaign for an environmentally concerned newspaper.

Graham Andrews

Spokane

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