Op-Ed: Climate change is a big problem. Citizens must demand many small solutions

The world is on fire. The flames are hard to see, because we hide them so well. But you can hear them — in the whine of jet engines as planes streak across the sky, in the rumble of power plants as they send electricity surging over power lines, in the purr of your car engine as you drive to work.

Many people are trying to help, in their own ways — perhaps by buying a Prius or an electric car, recycling diligently, installing smart thermostats, eating less meat, maybe contributing money to an environmental group. These actions are important, but by themselves they are not enough. The world will not be saved by conscientious “green consumers” who decide, one family at a time, to drive less or install solar panels on the roof. The problem is just too big for that.

Buildings are one of the nation’s largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions. It will be impossible to meaningfully slow global climate change without cleaning up America’s buildings, and the way to do it is to subject them to new rules. More than 50 cities in California and a handful of other states have adopted or proposed rules to ban or limit new gas hookups. The gas industry is fighting back, running advertisements with gauzy pictures of blue flames to make gas look nostalgic and inviting, instead of like the huge climate problem that it is. To resist expanding fossil fuel use, citizens must use their influence to counter this malign industry campaign.

California already has statewide building standards that are among the toughest in the country, but they need to get tougher. And cities are allowed to Across much of the world, building codes are updated on a three-year cycle, with new, tighter energy requirements each time. But too many American states and cities are slow to adopt changes. Your local city council needs a nudge from constituents. That means citizens need to dig in and learn a little bit of detail about when the votes are coming up, and then speak up.

opinion Ahh, yes. Small incremental steps 14 years after you endorsed the massive money-hole HSR.

opinion It’s the green policies that are getting us in trouble.

opinion See my previous tweet for the actual science. Then they pile it on . . 'a runaway increase in wildfires.' The LAT's must issue a correction - It's a bold faced lie. Should retract the entire mess.

opinion So you begin with a lie: 'The world is on fire. The flames are hard to see' Yes the flames are harder to see, because for the world, inc the US & even CA (as the LAT's has written about), wildfires are in long term declining trends.

opinion There is no climate emergency

opinion Big Scam you mean

opinion

opinion Don't mind that the wealthy are still buying ocean front properties. Don't be scammed by grifters like BarackObama

opinion Why does climate change seem to only be pushed onto regular citizens as something they need to focus on,but the wealthy like BarackObama are still buy oceanfront mega mansions?🧐

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