In the op-ed “Bill Gates was right: Make climate spending about results” (Nov. 26, Opinion), the author advocates that efficient actions to address climate change should be taken by consumers. This brings us back to the very successful public relations campaign led by British Petroleum and other oil companies, in the early 2000s, that shifted responsibility for addressing climate change from these companies to consumers. (BP popularized the phrase “carbon footprint.”)
Yes, it helps if consumers use less energy, or use energy during low consumption hours, but it is not enough to lower emissions as we need to. Ask Europeans, these practices have been around for years there.
There is no secret: To lower emissions as we need, we must move away from fossil fuels and consume clean energy instead. Currently, it takes years to deliver permits for new clean energy sites or new electric transmission lines. Our legislators need to make it much faster to develop these clean energy resources, while preserving our environment and community input.
Stop putting the responsibility of solving climate change on consumers. Instead, leave fossil fuels in the ground and give us cheap and plentiful clean energy.
Martine Smets, Redmond
