U.S. could be leader in fighting vicious cycle

Our planet is on fire. Ablaze are the Amazon basin, vast stretches of African savanna, and Arctic areas of Siberia.

Climate change's increased temperatures and dryness set the stage for fires of greater intensity and in areas where they are rarely seen.

The recently raging, extensive California fires are a closer example of this.

The fires are a double whammy: putting more carbon dioxide in the air and eliminating the trees and plants that absorb it.

This has the makings of an accelerated vicious circle known as a feedback loop that could spiral out of control and dwarf all other issues if we do not immediately and drastically reduce greenhouse gases.

The United States could be the world leader in this effort by example and encouragement of other countries, creating millions of jobs in solar and wind energy and energy efficiency.

Using the mobilization for World War II as a guide, solar panel and wind turbine factories could be located in depressed small city, rural, and inner city areas. Workers could be quickly trained as they were to build the far more complicated tanks, airplanes, and ships that won that war.

Instead we have Donald Trump's denial, cutback on greenhouse gas regulations, and withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.

Richard Barsanti

Western Springs