Figure out how to live with climate change: Your Say

Letters to the editor:

For the life of me, I can't understand why intelligent conservatives such as commentary writer Jonah Goldberg relentlessly question the validity of climate research ("Jonah Goldberg: Climate activists uncaged" Opinion, Tuesday).

The overwhelming majority of climate scientists have concluded that human activity is a major factor in the rapid warming of the Earth. Yet Goldberg's view is that the threat is overblown. Based on what? He seems to give his own opinions more credibility than the scientific method.

Goldberg would probably say that even though the overwhelming majority of researchers warn that our overuse of antibiotics is creating superbugs, "My own view is that the threat is overblown."

John Huxhold; Manchester, Mo.

USA TODAY's article "Report: Effects of climate change seen everywhere" is alarmist at best. I am a scientist, and many of us do not agree with the United Nations' report that human-generated emissions are the main cause of potential global warming (News, Monday). The Earth's surface air temperatures have plateaued. And concern over increased carbon dioxide is misrepresented. CO2 is necessary for proper plant photosynthesis, wherein plant organisms use light to help convert the gas into sugars and issue oxygen as a byproduct. That oxygen is a good thing. It's what we breathe.

James Green; Heber City, Utah

I disagree with a lot of climate change science, but I agree that if it's true, it's a waste of our money to study and try to prevent it.

We can't do it alone. If other countries ignore the issue, then it's out of our control and adapting to the situation makes the most sense.

— Braxton Deal

Whether or not you believe that climate change is occurring, isn't it just common sense to realize that we will inevitably need an alternative to burning fossil fuels — a finite resource — and begin to look to the future?

The mind-set of "we're fine now, so nothing should change" is a recipe for extinction.

— Kay Dirling

I have always said we need to take care of our environment by controlling pollution and not being wasteful of our resources.

However, the environmentalists seem to have decided to put all their focus on carbon dioxide and emissions. That is why many people have lost faith and trust in their agenda.

— Ed Jones

The climate is always changing. It was changing even when there were no humans on Earth.

It will continue to change. We humans can't stop it.

— Richard Button