Letters: Urgent action needed on climate change
Who is going to be responsible for the enormous costs that we are accumulating due to delays in addressing climate change? Jamie Morton (News, March 4) talks about hesitant and denialist attitudes to climate change, in the context of a multitude of evidence of widespread disruptions. There is plenty of evidence in many previous Bay of Plenty Times articles as well, yet where is the resolute action and calls for community commitment from our leaders? At a time where the IPCC is calling for "unprecedented changes", the World Economic Forum is talking about "sleepwalking into environmental catastrophe" and the New York Times headlines "It is time to panic", what are we doing? We are discussing apathy. While the councils are starting to come to terms with adapting to the impact of climate change, they are a long way from any effective targets addressing the causes. It is easy to point to New Zealand's size, and ask what the countries like India and China are doing. Yet Germanwatch places us near the bottom of its performance scale (44 of 59), with China 33 and India 11. How should we respond? We now have school students organising to strike for their climate, and organisations such an Extinction Rebellion campaigning for the declaration of climate emergency. Do we listen to them or dismiss them. Who is going to be responsible for the enormous costs that we are accumulating due to our delays in addressing these causes? Gray Southon Tauranga If Jim Wall "hands off SH2" (Letters, March 2) lived in the area that it serviced he might have an entirely different view. Was he indeed rejoicing when the fantastic eastern link was built? Yes, it is a fantastic highway to - well nowhere really. Bite the bullet and help save some lives. Bill Murphy, in the same edition, has got it spot on. If you don't use the road much, please keep your comments to yourself. (Abridged) R Lacey Katikati The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters from readers. Please note the following: Letters should not exceed 200 words. They should be opinion based on facts or current events. If possible, please email. No noms-de-plume. Letters will be published with names and suburb/city. Please include full name, address and contact details for our records only. Local letter writers given preference. Rejected letters are not normally acknowledged. Letters may be edited, abridged, or rejected at the Editor's discretion. The Editor's decision on publication is final. Email editor@bayofplentytimes.co.nz Tauranga's new on-demand bus service is hugely popular but fares will rise to cover costs.