Elected leaders must focus on climate

A recent Daily Herald included interviews with candidates Jeanne Ives and Gordon Kinzler, who are running for the 6th District congressional seat. They were asked if they believe climate change is caused by human activity. I have two questions for the candidates: 1) "Are you aware of how much the climate has already changed," and 2) "How much does climate inaction cost?"

On Jan. 30, the DuPage County Stormwater Management Department made an excellent presentation at the DuPage Environmental Summit in Naperville. They showed that average annual precipitation has increased by 5% to 10% in most of the Midwest and that the four wettest annual rainfall days have increased by about 35%.

We are fortunate to live in an area that can afford to make the large ($100 Million plus) investments in stormwater management necessary to minimize the impacts of more frequent and severe rainstorms. Other parts of our country are not so fortunate.

High-consequence weather events have increased throughout America and the world. Farmer planting and harvests are often ruined by flooding or droughts and ocean and Great Lake coastlines are being eroded by rising water levels and storm surges.

Insurance actuaries report that extreme weather event cost factors are steadily rising. Clearly climate change needs to be addressed and the sooner the better.

The United States has available state-of-the-art satellite and measuring technology that accurately assesses climate change as it is happening. This data and the science behind it are at our disposal to guide our response to climate change. As a 6th District constituent, I hope that the winner of the next election will give climate change the urgent consideration it deserves and not rely on partisan talking points.

Tom Rausch

Glen Ellyn