Paris Climate Conference facts were misrepresented

Richard Neufeld’s letter of April 2 (“Climate deal lets other nations increase pollution”) misrepresents the facts concerning the Paris Climate Conference. He is concerned that the U.S. pledged to decrease its CO2 emissions 28 percent by 2025, while China pledged to start cutting in 2030.

What he failed to mention was that the U.S. per capita emissions are currently about 2  1/2 times more than China’s, and even if our promised cuts are enacted, we will continue to produce more. In fact, the U.S. has put more CO2 into the atmosphere than any other country.

Further, Neufeld facetiously states, “Problem solved.” Nothing could be further from the truth. We need to keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius, but even if all countries implement all steps agreed to in Paris, warming is projected to be a dangerous 2.7 to 3.5 degrees Celsius. We have work to do!

Coincidentally, on the very next page of The Tribune were the results of a study warning us that in addition to the 3 feet of sea level rise that is already predicted, we could have an additional 3 feet by century’s end. Of the two, Neufeld or the scientists, I think the scientists are more likely to be correct.

This story was originally published April 9, 2016 at 9:06 PM with the headline "Paris Climate Conference facts were misrepresented."