Editor, The Times:
Now it's official! 2015 was the hottest year since recorded stats have been kept. They've been around since the 1800's.
Yesterday, I was at a neighbours place watching the Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis film, “This Changes Everything.”
There are several scenes that really made an impression. One was the horrendous smog in China's major cities in which people struggle to breath – simply not being able to go outdoors for days on end. China has paid a very high price for its economic growth. It was pointed out that China also is the worlds largest builder of renewable energy – things such as solar panels, etc.
However this is the eleventh hour as the toxic fumes swirl about the streets of Beijing. Is it too late?
The second was India's plans to build virtually hundreds of coal-fired plants across the country. This will destroy large areas of agricultural land – desperately needed for feeding India, which has the second largest population on the face of this earth. Plus all the Indians have to do is look across the border into China to see just what the end result will be.
The third was a huge gathering of climate change deniers, financed by the notorious Koch brothers, among others.
There are also bright spots such as Germany — once the scourge of Europe – now a leader in renewable energy – Scandinavia too.
However, it is the eleventh hour. It may be soon too late!
Dennis Peacock
Clearwater, B.C.