Global Warming and Rising Oceans

To the Editor:

Given that our state and federal governments are set on reducing CO2 emissions, I wonder how much difference it will make since the highest CO2 emitter, China, is really not doing much to reduce its CO2 emissions. In the meantime, developing nations, especially, India, are rapidly increasing their CO2 emissions. In the news we read that the glaciers are melting, and the ice caps are shrinking due to global warming which will cause the oceans to rise. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Geological Survey — expect significant sea level rise over the next 30 years. They projected 10 to 14 inches of rise on average for the East Coast and 14 to 18 inches for the Gulf Coast. It seems strange that I haven’t seen any effort to either move people away for low lying coastal regions or to build higher retaining walls around these regions. When oceans do rise, will there be time to do what is necessary to protect coastal people and cities? It just doesn’t make sense to concentrate on CO2 reduction which may take years to start making a difference and to do nothing about coastal areas which will be flooded.

Michael W. Lundgreen

Fairmont