Simple observations support climate change

This is a response to Mr. McEwen's Dec. 10 letter "Climate debate is science fiction."

Regarding our environment, Mr. McEwen opened his statement with, "What is going on here?" I am not a scientist, and I admit I don't always fully understand the vocabulary and statistics scientists quote. This is what I DO understand - my own observations.

I'd like to share what I've observed (not read or heard) about the topic you address: Dried lands in our west, photos of Asians wearing masks to combat huge clouds of smog, polar bears teetering on tiny ice floes, creeks turned to trickles, fewer bees in my flowers, photos of hundreds of species that have become extinct in my lifetime, and thousands of people suffering the fallout of natural disasters - many more than I witnessed when I was younger.

I think these observations answer your question, "What is going on here?" and I think the simple answer is change.

It's some sort of change in our environment.

I don't claim to know exactly what it is, and I'm not sure it matters what we call it, but it sure doesn't seem like the change is for the better, does it?

I understand that numbers can be confusing. However, regardless of the statistics you may read, I think calling observable change "science fiction" is going too far.

Amy Chapin

Grayslake