Editor,
We, as board members for Carmel Green Initiative, Inc., are deeply concerned when we read and hear Hamilton County citizens deny that climate change is occurring and needs to be addressed. The impacts of climate change are undeniable and will affect future generations for years to come.
By ignoring the science and our personal observations, we are failing to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. According to Indiana climate scientists, the effects will affect our Hamilton County’s children’s health, agriculture, tourism, recreation and infrastructure as well as our forest and aquatic ecosystems. Both Purdue and Indiana universities have stepped up and created research centers to help us learn about and deal with the effects (check out Purdue Climate Change Research Center at ag.purdue.edu/climate and IU’s Environmental Resilience Institute at eri.iu.edu).
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard has spearheaded many initiatives and programs to lessen the impact of climate change on Carmel citizens, but this isn’t enough. All of us must step up – individually and as a community – to explore and employ lifestyles that help preserve our No. 1 city for our grandkids and great grandkids.
As our community and the world struggle to overcome the coronavirus pandemic, we urge you to bear in mind the strong parallels between ignoring the scientific warnings of a pandemic and ignoring the scientific warnings of climate change. One of the most outstanding lessons from the pandemic is the critical role of elected leaders and science to help our community prepare, prevent and mitigate disasters. This upcoming election, please vote for candidates who accept climate science and are willing to do something about climate change before it is too late.
Leslie Webb
Dennis Shock
Alexia Lopez
Cindy Muse
Meredith McCutcheon
Madelyn Zalon
George Schenetzke
Miranda Frausto
Felipe Gaimaraes
