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Letter: Sleepless nights

I have to respond to [City of Powell River councillor] CaroleAnn Leishman's dilemma, but I barely know where to start [“ City of Powell River councillor makes impassioned call to address climate change ,” March 6 ].
Powell River letter

I have to respond to [City of Powell River councillor] CaroleAnn Leishman's dilemma, but I barely know where to start [“City of Powell River councillor makes impassioned call to address climate change,” March 6].

Even assuming climate change is a fact and assuming we (and by we I mean mankind) can make changes sufficient to influence the climate for the better, spending thousands of dollars in Powell River is barely a baby step toward that objective. Sure, baby steps cumulatively can be significant but in this context it will be necessary for all other pollution contributors to take their own baby steps. China? India? Very doubtful. United States? A few maybe.

Those people responsible for the deforestation in South America? Not even one baby step is likely there.

Then we have pollution we are not responsible for: natural sources such as forest fires and volcanoes contribute significant amounts of CO2 annually. Just counteracting their effect would be an immense challenge.

Declaring climate change an emergency is beyond reason and unless Leishman can get things into perspective, I'm afraid she is in for many sleepless nights to come.

Martin Hill
Highway 101