Andrea De Zubiria & Madeleine Para - 11-13-2022 - Valley’s new members in Congress have moral duty to deal with climate challenges

 Valley’s new members in Congress have moral duty to deal with climate challenges 

BY ANDREA DE ZUBIRIA AND MADELEINE PARA 

NOVEMBER 13, 2022 5:30 AM

From Hurricane Ian’s deadly toll to the destruction in Puerto Rico and fatal flooding in Kentucky, it’s clear an altered climate is hurting Americans. 

Whether enduring storms or flooding, or the growing threats of wildfires, toxic air, extreme heat, and drought, Americans are increasingly concerned by climate extremes. 

In the Central Valley we’re already navigating drought, wildfires, and poor air quality. We need far-reaching efforts to reduce carbon emissions, lessen the warming and avoid the worsening consequences of unchecked greenhouse gas emissions. 

While it’s human nature to feel overwhelmed by seemingly insurmountable problems, facing climate change head-on has been empowering for volunteers in the Fresno chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. As everyday advocates seeking “the political will for a livable world,” our chapter meets regularly with the Valley’s congressional delegation to urge for bipartisan climate policy to protect the people we love and the places we call home. 

Our persistence is paying off. Congress is listening and taking steps to stabilize our climate, reduce pollution and ensure people and businesses benefit as we phase out the burning of heat-trapping fossil fuels. Get unlimited digital access Try 1 month for $1 CLAIM OFFER 

The recently signed Inflation Reduction Act includes climate provisions such as financial incentives for Americans to pivot away from gas cars and fossil-fuel-heated homes. The act also has a $60 billion boost for domestic clean energy and is already motivating manufacturers to gear up production in the U.S. This will result in American jobs and help reduce U.S. emissions by up to 40% by 2030. 

This is a great start, but a steady flow of climate extremes highlights the haste needed to solve this problem. While climate change did not cause Hurricane Ian — a catastrophic storm that killed more than 100 people — it added to the storm’s severity. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, and preliminary analysis indicates human-induced climate change increased the extreme rainfall of Hurricane Ian by more than 10%. The storm’s rapid intensification to a destructive Category 4 hurricane was also aided by warm ocean water, which was about 1.8 F degrees warmer than usual, creating “rocket fuel for the storm” as one hurricane researcher described it. 

Meanwhile, many in Puerto Rico are living without electricity after Hurricane Fiona caused flooding and landslides. In Canada, Fiona’s landfall was deemed the strongest on record, highlighting how we must do more to mitigate against weather-amplifying climate change.

A pressing concern is weather whiplash, where conditions rapidly swing from one extreme to another. Dallas endured heat and drought for months. Then the rain came in August, causing flash floods that killed one and left thousands fleeing to higher ground. In Kentucky, at least 37 people died in flash flooding, including families with children. 

Based on current warming trends, the White House Office of Management and Budget predicts climate change could reduce gross domestic product in the U.S. by up to 10% — about $2 trillion in today’s dollars — by the end of this century. Climate extremes are also hindering medical services, and military forces are stretched as they deal with escalating wildfires, flooding, and heat. 

The emissions reductions expected from the Inflation Reduction Act are a significant step forward, but they fall below our Paris climate commitment of 50% by 2030. More federal policy is necessary to move the economy away from polluting fossil fuels. Implementing a price on pollution (carbon fee) would quickly lower emissions, and the money could be recycled back to Americans. Adding a border fee on carbon-intensive imports would also send a signal to the world that America will penalize foreign polluters who aren’t doing their part. 

We urge Valley members of the new Congress being seated next year to support strong solutions to steer our nation toward clean energy. 

Climate change is here and making extreme weather worse, but we have the collective power to change the stakes. Now our leaders have a duty to shield us from the worst.

https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article268484442.html?fbclid=IwAR1jFnPWguh22AI4IFUmbLFZ9DB0SRZ9BJBFNEsB8Jvqz7vaCswK08t4dCc

Read more at: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article268484442.html#storylink=cpy

Anna Villavicencio - 11-26-2022 - Here’s wisdom of a 14-year-old Valley girl on encouraging climate change reductions

 Here’s wisdom of a 14-year-old Valley girl on encouraging climate change reductions

BY ANNA VILLAVICENCIO

NOVEMBER 26, 2022 5:30 AM

As a 14 year old, I am told that, “change starts with you.” In health class, we’re taught that if you’re healthy, you influence your family’s health. Then your family can influence your friends’ and neighbors’ health for the better. Most kids don’t pay attention during class — I agree it is boring. But there’s one thing I’ve learned from sitting through the long hours that is actually true! 

As Americans, we each have different changes we want to make. This can make it hard to influence others. But when something matters to all Americans, the “change” can be made easier. And most Americans can agree on wanting better lives, a stronger economy and American success. 

Many of these things are mostly controlled by the government and other worldwide events. However, we can still see their effects and care about them. We can actually influence some of them. 

One example of worldwide change is the European Union’s (EU) carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). This is targeted to start in 2023. What it will do is make other countries who are exporting to the EU have to pay a tariff. This tariff will be determined by the amount of carbon emitted in the making of the product. The more carbon emitted in the production of exports, the more money American businesses are going to have to pay Europe. 

Since the US already has cleaner manufacturing than other countries like China and India, we’ll be paying less than them. We’ll also be doing well because companies will want to move here, encouraging economic growth. But there is a way for America to have more success.

If we imposed our own CBAM, we would be level with the EU. China and others would have to pay us for their exports to us. There is also another big way our country would benefit. With other countries incentivized to emit less carbon, there would be a cleaner world with less pollution. This would save American lives, and help slow climate change. 

This is just one example of legislation that could be passed, and it’s legislation that can have bipartisan support. Enforcing a CBAM is consistent with conservative values — it’s not growing the government or creating more regulations. Instead, we would be helping create a cleaner Earth while holding other countries accountable. 

While this will create positive changes throughout the world by lowering greenhouse gasses, the change starts locally. When ordinary citizens want change, they can influence their policy-makers.

This spring, Three Rivers Union School District passed a climate resolution. This document stresses the importance of taking actions to help the Earth that aren’t politically aligned. It points out that rising carbon emissions contribute to California’s diminishing snowpack, which affects California’s agricultural economy. But it also acknowledges that there are many solutions. 

When elected officials hear from their communities, they are likely to care about those issues. In fact, my congressman, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, recently introduced a new bipartisan bill dedicated to saving sequoia trees. 

My boring health class was right: you can influence the world. Starting with your friends and neighbors, and even the government. Whether you’re lobbying through an organization like Citizens’ Climate Lobby or talking to your community, you can be a catalyst to help America succeed. 

Anna Villavicencio is a ninth grader at Woodlake High School. She is a member of the Youth Action Team of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. She and her school club Ecopact were recently featured in the documentary Kaweah Kweens.

Read more at: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article269117587.html#storylink=cpy

Read more at: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article269117587.html#storylink=cpy

Read more at: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article269117587.html#storylink=cpy

https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article269117587.html?ac_cid=DM730348&ac_bid=1469841382

Read more at: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article269117587.html#storylink=cpy

Don Gaede - Aug Sep 2022 -National Association of Evangelicals -

San Luis Obispo Tribune

August-September 2022 

I was pleased to read a recent report from the National Association of Evangelicals regarding climate change. The report talks about the Biblical basis for protecting our earth and our climate: “The Bible does not tell us anything directly about how to evaluate scientific reports … but it does give several helpful principles: Care for creation, love our neighbors and witness to the world.”

This is similar to what evangelical Christian and climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe has said: “For Christians, doing something about climate change is about living out our faith - caring for those who need help, our neighbors here at home or on the other side of the world, and taking responsibility for this planet that God created and entrusted to us.”

With record heat in the West, catastrophic flooding in Pakistan, and extreme drought in Europe, our climate is in desperate need of help from all quarters. This includes assistance from our important evangelical Christian communities. I welcome their support.

 Don Gaede

Andrea Farber De Zubiria - 8-7-2022 - Consider Climate When Voting

Fresno Bee, August 7, 2022 

Consider climate when voting

With most Americans concerned or alarmed about climate change and millions suffering from air quality issues, why is the Supreme Court slowing US efforts toward both clean air and a stable climate?

The June 30 Supreme Court ruling in West Virginia v. the United States Environmental Protection Agency limited the EPA’s authority to regulate the greenhouse gasses that cause climate change and air pollution. The ruling also means that the EPA will only be able to monitor and enforce regulations regarding pollutants delegated by Congress in very specific laws.

Taking care of the environment we depend on for our lives and livelihoods didn’t used to be so partisan. The EPA was started by a Republican presidency in response to rising outrage over public health hazards in our environment.

We will be voting in November. Please plan to vote and consider carefully which candidates understand the critical need for legislation that reduces emissions while maintaining a thriving economy. Valley air is some of the worst in the nation, and record heat and drought make this worse. It also risks agriculture and the safety of outdoor workers, contributes to obesity and depression as people stay indoors, challenges our precious water supply and worsens wildfires. We can do better. We need to do better!

Andrea Farber De Zubiria, Fresno

https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article264205461.html

Anna Villavicencio - 8-21-2022? - Make a Carbon Adjustment

Bakersfield Californian 

Before August 21, 2022 

MAKE A CARBON ADJUSTMENT:

In a recent letter to the editor, doubt was expressed about the current state of the world warming. Yes, the Earth's climate has been changing for a long time, going through natural cycles. What's different is that this time the Earth is warming much faster. And, the warming started speeding up when humans started burning fossil fuels during the industrial revolution.

Try thinking about Earth's atmosphere as a blanket wrapped around the Earth. Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases, which act to thicken the blanket. More heat gets trapped inside Earth because less can escape past the blanket.

Europe's carbon border adjustment will affect American business in a negative way. Clearly if we care about our economy and business, we'll want to enact our own carbon border adjustment to protect our businesses, whether we care about climate change or not.

Take Germany, for example, which did rely on Russia for natural gas. But if they didn't need natural gas, Russia would have less leverage on them and their economy might be doing better. With the price volatility of fossil fuels, which actually helps to drive inflation, it seems smarter to depend on energy sources that are constant and won't go away. A carbon border adjustment will help our countries and others to make a transition to renewable energy while helping American businesses.

— Anna Villavicencio, Three Rivers

Matthew Armstrong - 7/17/2022, To Stop Crazy Gas Prices, Get Off Oil

To Stop Crazy Gas Prices, Get Off Oil

Fresno Bee, July 17, 2022

I often hear that Biden is responsible for the jump in fuel prices. This is odd, as gas prices are rising across the world, but Biden is the president of only one country. Oil (including oil from, the U.S.) is traded on a world market, and blaming Biden for it makes about as much sense as blaming Trump for the appearance of COVID-19. Fossil fuels are prone to market fluctuations, and major events often cause prices to spike. However, there are plenty of ways to generate power — including power to run vehicles — aside from fossil fuels. There’s nuclear power, wind, solar, hydroelectric and many more. If you are tired of being gouged at the gas pump, look to long-term solutions that allow us to stop relying on volatile oil markets. While we suffer, their profits increase. It’s time to let the oil companies lighten their wallets for a change. 

Matthew Armstrong, Fresno

 https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article263413123.html#storylink=cpy

Bruce Ratcliffe - 5-29-2022 - Global warming? Not to worry

Global warming? Not to worry

Fresno Bee. May 29, 2022

If global warming is self-limiting, we won’t need to take any action combat it. The Earth’s climate system may be like a giant thermostat — when it gets too hot, it turns the heat off. Recent headlines suggest this may be the case.

“COP26: A Failure For The Planet And The World’s Poor”

“Climate change will result in thousands of new viruses spread among animal species, jumping from animals to humans”

“COVID-19 slashed global economic output by $8 trillion”

“Heat Wave Scorches India’s Wheat Crop”

Global oil consumption dropped around 15% due to the pandemic. Crop failures and multiple future pandemics will reverse population growth. Economic collapse will crush the dreams of Third World peoples who aspired to the lavish fossil fuel-based lifestyle we Americans take for granted.

So how is this “self-limiting”? Simple: Oil consumption tracks with prosperity. If civilization approaches the cliff, oil burning will plummet. CO2 levels, the root cause of these climate disasters, will drop too. Voila — relief from the heat! All we have to do to ensure this future is ignore the climate crisis.

Then again, we could choose to fight as if civilization depended on it. Just in case.

Bruce Ratcliffe

Fresno

https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article261806092.html

Matthew Armstrong - 5-8-2022 - Climate Change is Real Deal for Ag

 

CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL DEAL FOR AG 

Fresno Bee

May 8, 2022

I have noticed that, whenever a letter writer or the author of an op-ed cites concerns about climate change, there is inevitably a large number of people who leave comments on The Bee web page for the letter or op-ed, saying something to the effect of “why should we worry about possible future problems.” 

I can only assume that these same commenters have failed to notice that California has begun to experience yearly record-breaking fire seasons, that they are unaware of aquifers in Florida no longer useable due to saltwater intrusion from warming seas, that they are unaware of massive drought and famine now occurring routinely in South America and the Middle East, and that they have failed to notice that what had long been described, with reason, as once-a-century floods are now routinely hitting the Midwestern U.S. and Europe. Indeed, last year alone, multiple locations in normally frigid parts of Canada experienced hotter weather than Fresno...truly odd. 

Climate change is not a “possible future” problem, it is here now and is impacting agricultural yields, something that should be of concern to an agricultural region like our home. We cannot keep sticking our heads in the sand. 

Matthew Armstrong, Fresno

https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article261148912.html

Ken Wall - 4-30-2022 - Fresno activist: Citizens are pushing climate change ideas due to inaction by leaders

 Fresno activist: Citizens are pushing climate change ideas due to inaction by leaders

 By Ken Wall

April 30, 2022 

Fresno Bee

Emissions rise from the smokestacks at the Jeffrey Energy Center coal power plant as the suns sets, near Emmett, Kansas. As climate change bakes the planet, dozens of nations, including the U.S. and many local governments, are putting a price tag on greenhouse gas emissions that are causing more floods, droughts and other destructive events.  Charlie Riedel  AP file

 Promoting legislation to pass laws to encourage lower greenhouse gas emissions seems very much like a grassroots effort. The organization I spend most of my time with, Citizens Climate Lobby (citizensclimatelobby.org), is just that, a nationwide organization of volunteers (mostly) that lobbies members of Congress to pass climate change legislation, specifically a fee on carbon pollution and cash back to residents.

 Compared to the deep pockets of fossil fuel companies that fight against that sort of legislation, our efforts sometimes seem modest. But we keep going because we believe strongly in the rightness of the cause, and we have hope that the truth in the message carries weight that our pockets do not.

 The anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

 People concerned about political responses to climate change remain hopeful that effective national legislation to address the threats of a warming climate will come later this year as congressional deliberations continue. Meanwhile, numerous other individuals and organizations interested in addressing climate change are taking different actions.

 For example, Bill McKibben, perhaps the best-known climate activist working today, has formed a nationwide organization called Third Act (thirdact.org), geared toward individuals 60 years of age or older.

 Third Act’s focus on the older population segment makes sense since we who are in that group collectively hold or control 70% of the wealth in the country.

 Third Act is asking people to sign pledges to not open accounts with the four banks that provide the most financing for fossil fuel development: JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank. Those individuals who currently have accounts with these banks are asked to sign pledges to, at year-end, close all deposit accounts and credit cards with these banks if they keep funding companies that produce fossil fuels.

 Given that in 2020 these four banks collectively loaned fossil fuel companies approximately $210 billion, and the trend is apparently continuing, it seems unlikely that these banks will decide to curtail this profitable line of business by the end of the year. If that is what happens, it will be interesting to see the result of thousands of accounts being closed by customers at that time.

 At the state level, another climate change approach is illustrated in SB 1173, now being reviewed in committee hearings by the California Senate. This bill, promoted by Fossil Free California (fossilfreeca.org), another grassroots organization, would require CalSTRS and CalPERS, the massive California teacher and public employee pension funds, to divest from their fossil fuel investments. It is estimated that the two funds currently hold fossil fuel investments totaling approximately $9 billion.

 The Global Fossil Fuel Divestment Commitments Database estimates that worldwide divestment commitments now total more than $40 trillion. Half the divesting institutions are either faith-based organizations (35%) or educational institutions (15%), with pension funds next (12%).

 A new grassroots group of faith-based institutions has formed in Fresno around the idea of addressing the effects of climate change on Fresno County residents, especially the marginalized. This group is called the Fresno Interfaith Climate Alliance.

 Although the group is new, the representatives of various faiths that have met recently sent a letter to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors asking for it to reverse its decision to turn down the state’s offer of a grant to study the impact of climate change on local disadvantaged communities. The letter was signed by, among others, representatives of local Jewish, Christian (Catholic and Protestant), Islamic and Sikh communities.

 There is a growing trend toward citizen activism in response to the sluggish pace of political progress in addressing climate change. People are more willing to directly pressure local, state and federal governments to more effectively address the problem.

 Grassroots pressure on certain businesses that contribute most to the climate problem will likely continue and expand as well. I think businesses, and elected officials at all levels of government, will be hearing more about climate change from their customers and constituents. Perhaps when the people’s voices are loud enough, lawmakers will enact appropriate climate change legislation in spite of pressure from contrary interests with deeper pockets.

 Time to take meaningful actions in an orderly manner appears to be running out, and more and more people are understanding that and advocating for effective political solutions.

 Ken Wall is a retired banker and bank regulator in Fresno, and is active with Citizens Climate Lobby Fresno. He can be reached at kwall9175@gmail.com.

Lesa Schwarz - 4-17-2022 - Supes oil vote was incomprehensible

 

Fresno Bee 

April 17, 2022

Supes oil vote was incomprehensible

Thank you, Marek Warszawski, for your thoughtful, provocative column of March 25 about our supervisors’ choice to ignore climate change and opt for more oil digging to deal with increased gas prices.

As suggested, what can explain their position but money. With so many alternatives, why choose the one that is most harmful to our Valley that already suffers from the worst air pollution in the country? Their position will lead to a more difficult world to live in and certainly a much harder one to stop the horrific, costly climate-related weather episodes we are having.

What about more money for solar rebates and other green energy? Make green energy readily accessible to all. Put a price on carbon at the source so that those who pollute are those that pay. Scientists agree this will help us reach our Net Zero emission goals. Return the money to the public as dividends to absorb increased costs. Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a non-partisan, national grassroots organization, suggests just that and fights to save our planet from the terrible destruction that awaits us without any action. Perhaps our supervisors should research these alternatives and take their hands out of their pockets.

Lesa Schwartz

https://www.fresnobee.com/article260366090.html

Andrea DeZubiria - 4-1-2022- Fresno County’s Drilling Push is Wrong Solution to Energy Woes

 Fresno County’s Drilling Push is Wrong Solution to Energy Woes

By Opinion April 1, 2022

GV Wire

No one in the Valley wants to pay more to get to work, to run a business or to be comfortable in their home. But the unanimous resolution by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to drill for oil and frack for gas here will not help us with the current increase in oil and gas prices.

The U.S. is already a net exporter of energy, yet our energy prices are still affected by the actions of other major players like Russia and Saudi Arabia. Even if more oil and gas production in the Valley would help energy prices–which it won’t –the “solution” of additional fossil fuels might lessen one major problem while exacerbating many others in our area: our lack of water, our infamous air pollution, the increasing temperatures worsening our fire risk, damaging our agriculture and inflicting multiple public health hazards on many vulnerable people.

Effects of Fracking

Fracking (short for “ hydraulic fracturing” ) produces oil and gas by blasting huge amounts of water, mixed with sand and toxic chemicals, under high pressure deep into the earth. This breaks up rock formations to allow oil and gas extraction. But it can also pollute local air and water and endanger wildlife and human health.

Opinion

Andrea De Zubiria

Fracking employs numerous toxic chemicals, including methanol, benzene, naphthalene and trimethylbenzene. About 25 percent of fracking chemicals could cause cancer, according to scientists with the Endocrine Disruption Exchange. Evidence is mounting throughout the country that these chemicals are making their way into aquifers and drinking water.

Fracking can also expose people to harm from lead, arsenic and radioactivity that are brought back to the surface with fracking flowback fluid. The process requires a large amount of water; the waste water it produces contains dangerous toxins so it generally cannot be cleaned and reused for other purposes. Especially during a historic drought, we cannot afford to permanently remove massive quantities of this precious resource from our water supply.

Clean Energy Provides Good Jobs

In a 14-year analysis of air quality across California, Stanford researchers observed higher levels of air pollutants within 2.5 miles of oil and gas wells, likely worsening negative health outcomes such as pre-term birth, asthma and heart disease. Their findings were recently published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

Of course we need affordable energy and good jobs in the Valley. And Russia’s attack on Ukraine highlights our need to free ourselves of unethical alliances with questionable governments. So what do we do? It’s time for the U.S. to deploy the most effective, fast-acting policies to increase our investment in clean energy options. This would make our domestic energy prices stable and affordable, freeing us from the volatility of fossil fuel prices. Clean energy offers good job opportunities. and would not dump tons of heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, continuing to destabilize our planet’s systems.

The E.U. is already taking steps in this direction, spurred by Russia’s attack. In 2020, 12% of US energy came from renewable sources like wind, solar and nuclear. If we want a safer world, a cleaner, healthier Valley and a prosperous local economy, we need our elected officials to support policies that lead us in that positive direction.

Andrea De Zubiria is the co-leader of the Fresno chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.  Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that trains individuals to advocate for federal legislation to lower greenhouse gas emissions. She can be reached at fresno@citizensclimatelobby.org

https://gvwire.com/2022/04/01/fresno-countys-drilling-push-is-wrong-solution-to-energy-woes/ 

David Roy - 3-27-2022 - Climate-study denial hurts ag

 Climate-study denial hurts ag 

March 27, 2022

How do we determine the most fundamental reason the Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted against spending an approved grant to assess the impact of climate deterioration on rural communities? 

A variety of board members' negative comments amounted to ad hominem attacks on the survey and revealed a lack of understanding of the nature and importance of empirically derived facts. 

Just like many people who put off seeing their physician because they don't want to know they might be seriously ill, Steve Brandau (my district's supervisor) and the others do not want to know the answers to critical questions in this situation because it likely will mean making changes to safeguard the health of the most vulnerable and the least represented. 

That stance is not only opposing the well-being of all, it actually works against agriculture by not knowing precisely what needs to be done to help keep its work force healthy and on the job. - 

David E. Roy, Fresno 

Pat Reeves - 3-27-2022 - Denial of study funding is shocking

 Denial of study funding is shocking 

March 27, 2022

I was shocked that the Fresno Country Board of Supervisors would vote against a project that would collect data on the effects of climate change in rural areas of the Val-ley. 

Problems can't be solved unless they are first understood. The data collected over a 20-year period would give us important informa-tion. 

I hope the supervisors will reconsider their vote. - 

Pat Reeves, Fresno 

Don Gaede - 3-27-2022 - Time to become prepared is now

 Time to become prepared is now 

March 27, 2022

I was disappointed that the Fresno County Board of Supervisors rejected a proposal by the Dept. of Public Health to accept $175,000 to fund a study on the health impacts of climate change on Fresno County residents. 

We need to better understand the health im-pacts of increasingly com-mon events like wildfire smoke drifting in from across the state. We need to find ways to shield our most vulnerable residents with asthma, COPD and heart disease from those events. 

I agree with the county supervisors that agriculture is important to Fresno County. But climate change threatens both Valley crops and Valley children. As any girl or boy Scout would tell you, "Be prepared." 

- Don Gaede, Fresno 

Andrea De Zubiria - 3-27-2022 - On county denying funds for study

 On county denying funds for study 

March 27, 2022

I truly appreciated your March 1 editorial, taking the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to task for turning away funds to study the local impacts of climate change. 

It is disturbing that we have elected leaders who would prefer to ignore urgent public health hazards so that they can carry on with business as usual. It is especially disturbing that the study would have focused on vulnerable populations and would likely be useful for applying for more funds to address problems in the Valley. 

Thank you for providing the public with information about this issue. I will share your editorial with the 1,000-plus members of Citizens' Climate Lobby-Fresno. - 

Andrea Farber De Zubiria, Fresno 

Matthew Armstrong - 3-13-2022 - County board refuses to see risks

 

County board refuses to see risks

March 13, 2022

In the Feb. 27 issue, The Bee reported that the county Board of supervisors rejected a grant to study health impacts of climate change, with Supervisor Magsig questioning whether such a study would fit with local agriculture, and Supervisor Brandau, unsurprisingly, making vague statements about the “sketchy” people who would do the study — with no clear example of what was sketchy about them.

This is, unfortunately, fairly typical of these two, and of the council as a whole as of late. When granted the opportunity to do their duty and help identify problems for their constituents in order to be prepared, they have chosen instead to bury their heads in the sand.

Every summer we see how climate change causes health problems by burning the Sierra, and we are now seeing how climate change-fueled droughts can impact local agriculture. But apparently the BoS feels that even acknowledging real-world problems, instead of fighting fictional culture wars and pursuing fringe Libertarian economic theories, is somehow not appropriate.

Failing to acknowledge the risks that the Valley faces from climate change is a dereliction of duty. I hope that the voters of Fresno County will hold these people responsible.

Matthew Armstrong, Fresno 

https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article259290964.html

Andrea DeZubiria - 1-30-2022 - Pick candidates who get climate

Pick candidates who get climate 

January 30, 2022

The “C” word is everywhere now. That’s C for “climate.”

And I’m glad to see it’s being talked about. The article by Seth Borenstein on Jan. 11 spelled out the problem — all the credible experts like NASA and NOAA say our rising greenhouse gas emissions “are making weather-related disasters nastier and more frequent.” The horrendous costs of the damage are clear. The 2020 Yale Opinion Poll showed that 70% of people in Fresno County are worried about global warming (which causes climate change). And over 70% say it will hurt plants, animals and future generations.

What we aren’t seeing enough of is the “S” word. That’s S for “solutions.” 

That same poll shows most people in Fresno County want to see policies that help solve the problem. These include things like tax rebates for energy-efficient vehicles and solar panels, funding research into renewable energy and requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a tax on emissions.

We are headed into elections soon. Let’s only elect Valley members of Congress who will support policies like these to protect our air, water and climate, so we can look forward to a healthy future.

-------------------

Andrea Farber De Zubiria

https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article257759098.html

Here is Seth Borenstein's AP article which Andrea mentions in her letter:

https://apnews.com/article/climate-wildfires-science-business-health-61ed7fe7d3c52a70fe2b72c881b0d0cf 

Devin Carroll - 1-9-2022 - Appreciating the support on climate

Appreciating the support on climate

January 9, 2022

We thank congressman Jim Costa for his votes to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Build Back Better Act.

Both bills have important provisions that will help America reach our 2030 and 2050 targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The IIAJ, which is bipartisan, includes monies for electric vehicle charging stations, zero emission buses, and cleaning up old oil and gas wells. It adds protections against climate-related disasters, such as wildfires.

It allocates $12 billion for “intercity rail service, including high-speed rail.” Although California’s HSR is not earmarked, Costa is working to secure our share. HSR will bring jobs to our area. Once it gets built, HSR will significantly reduce emissions. This has been a Costa priority for many years.

The House version of the BBBA, passed by Democrats only, has many climate provisions. It has incentives for clean power plants, carbon capture, electric vehicles, rebuilding the electric grid, nuclear power, getting rid of methane leaks, and more. The Senate might even add a carbon fee and dividend, which is strongly favored by economists.

Devin Carroll, Fresno

https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article257084592.html

Lynn Jacobsson - 1-9-2022 - Changing solar rules bad idea

 Changing solar rules bad idea

January 9, 2022

The California Public Utilities Commission wants to allow investor-owned utility companies like PG&E to raise the utility rates for rooftop solar customers. PG&E would cut in half the credit that it pays to owners of rooftop solar and add on a $40 a month “grid participation charge” to connect to the power grid. Here’s what’s wrong about the PUC’s proposal:

1. It is based on pitting homeowners of rooftop solar against other utility ratepayers by allowing PG&E to charge higher rates to non-solar customers in order to continue to favor profits for shareholders and highly paid executives.

2. It puts rooftop solar out of reach for working and middle-class families by lengthening the years it takes to recoup the average cost of $20,000 for solar installation.

3. It is based on the false assumption that the current credits to solar customers go only to wealthy ratepayers, when 42% of installations in California were to households with less than $100,000 in annual income.

4. Perhaps most importantly, by making rooftop solar more costly, it would “cripple California’s ability to meet a legislative mandate to eliminate carbon from the electricity grid by 2045” to fight climate change, according to solar advocates.

Lynn Jacobsson, Clovis

https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article257084592.html