PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 17, 2022
The worst consequences of this summer’s heat wave fell on the backs of the people least responsible for the climate crisis, and least able to deal with its fallout. As we celebrate the passage into law of the Inflation Reduction Act, a significant achievement in the existential fight against climate change, we also have to recognize that rising temperatures are already causing problems, and will continue to do so. To be successful, the climate response must take care to help those folks mitigate the worst the crisis has in store for us. To stave off the worst effects of climate change, the world needs to focus on reducing carbon emissions. The U.S. should lead the way. But as we shift to an economy run on renewable energy, our leaders can’t forget that climate change is already happening, and it’s hurting some of us worse than others.