What COVID-19 is teaching us about climate change
Members of the Asian Citizen’s Center for Environment and Health, wearing masks depicting the COVID-19 coronavirus, perform during an Earth Day event against climate change at Gwanghwamun square in Seoul on April 22. | Jung Yeon-je/AFP.Getty Images
We as a people want the best for our families. Let’s learn from this experience and better prepare for our current and future families.
The coronavirus provides lessons for climate change.
Lesson One: Preparation is critical. The better prepared you are for a pandemic, the better for everyone. Fewer people get sick, the disruption is shorter, and the cost is smaller. Note: “Prepared” means before the event or as early as possible in the process. Likewise, the sooner we take action on climate change, the fewer will get sick from air pollution and the more we will reduce the impact of weather disasters and the economic costs.
Lesson Two: Listen to the experts. Scientists have been warning us about a pandemic for years and telling us to get ready. The countries that listen are better prepared and reducing the impact. The overwhelming scientific consensus (97% of climate scientists) is that human caused pollution is warming the planet, and the sooner we do something the better.
Lesson Three: People should help people. Right now, young people, working people are staying at home to prevent the spread of the virus to those most vulnerable, mostly older people. Taking action on climate change now will help the young, future generations have a healthy environment in which to live.
The coronavirus crisis is having a tremendous cost, emotionally, mentally, physically, economically. We as a people want the best for our families. Let’s learn from this experience and better prepare for our current and future families.
Mark Ailes, Lombard
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Irresponsibly dangerous
If consuming disinfectants may be useful in the prevention of (or is it supposed to be a cure for?) COVID-19, as President Donald Trump recently suggested, what more sage advice can we can expect from the occupant of the Oval Office? Drinking anti-freeze to keep warm during cold weather?
His mouthings would be absurdly funny if they were not so irresponsibly dangerous.
William P. Gottschalk, Lake Forest
Election at risk
If the coronavirus returns in the fall as many experts predict, the Republicans will have the perfect excuse to find ways to suppress votes and even reschedule the election.
It is a political party that refuses to play fairly.
Bob Ory, Elgin
Incompetence costs lives
President Donald Trump’s incompetence, indecision, lies and defiance of scientific-based recommendations have cost thousands of American lives.
Tom Minnerick, Elgin