LETTER: Dueling viewpoints on the Southwest drought

The differing opinions in recent letters to the Review-Journal from Al Marquis and Mike Edens deserve further consideration.

Both gentlemen recognize the seriousness of the lingering 25-year drought facing the Southwest and Las Vegas. Mr. Marquis points to scientific warnings about continuing emissions of greenhouse gases. Mr. Edens doesn’t deny or acknowledge the effect of greenhouse gases, and he points to historical climate cycles as the cause. Certainly, climate cycles do exist. But the existence of increased gases cannot be denied in a world with an expanding population .

I did not get the impression that Mr. Marquis was blaming Donald Trump for 25 years of drought. Indeed this issue should not be politicized. However, the facts are clear: Climate change and global warming have consistently been characterized by the Trump administration as a hoax.

From the beginning of Mr. Trump’s second term, grants, disbursements and loans for renewable wind-energy projects have been suspended. Clean energy incentives have been rolled back, including incentives for electric vehicles. The administration has encouraged the use of fossil fuels, including coal, and has discouraged new technologies of wind and solar power. In our technological world, I submit this approach will not make the country more competitive.

Does it really help Americans to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement where so many other countries came together to address climate change and global warming? Greenhouse gas pollution is real. Mr. Edens doesn’t deny this. And this is not about a political movement. It is about taking steps forward to protect the environment and reduce the deleterious effects of natural disasters and the attendant instability to our lives.

The Trump administration serves those who advocate for freedom from regulations in mining and drilling. On top of that, a significant number of Republicans in Congress advocate for selling public lands to developers, which will deprive all Americans — including hikers, campers, anglers and hunters — of the use of such lands just to make it easier to make more profit. Is that for the public good?

If our mantra is going to be “America First” then I submit we need to address reality and protect our environment and public lands for the good of all.