The News & Record
Saving energy can slow global warming
As your excellent article (“Your 100-year forecast,” Jan. 30) reflected, despite naysayers like author Michael Crichton, there is broad scientific consensus that global warming is occurring much faster than expected and that the rate is accelerating. Severe impacts are being felt in many places, and climate experts express growing concern about potential “tipping points” and runaway warming.
The increasing drought/flood cycles and violent storms in North Carolina might not be global warming-related; either way, they’re destined to worsen.
Fortunately, measures to curb global warming should also be done for economic reasons. Clean technologies are fully developed to begin replacing hazardous electricity sources. However, that transition is impossible without widespread reductions in energy consumption. For years, experts in energy efficiency and building design have demonstrated that energy usage can be dramatically reduced by practical, available measures that reduce air pollution and save money. Saving energy is good for business and job creation. I encourage the News & Record to continue covering global warming — plus the feasibility of reducing greenhouse gases in the short term.
Jim Warren
Durham
The writer is executive director, N.C. Waste Awareness & Reduction Network.
