Readers React: Can our brains accept the reality of climate change?

To the editor: David Lazarus’ column on the negative effects of low gas prices ties in beautifully with Caryl Rivers’ Op-Ed article in the same paper about how our brains work when presented with information that doesn’t fit with what we believe we can expect. (“Low gas prices can be problem,” Dec. 11)

We expect that the world will go on much as it always has. We believe that if things are bad now, they will get better. Science tells us this is not so.

Climate change will only get worse — how much worse the situation can get depends on how quickly our brains can adjust to reality.

Things are not going to get better. Not only will our children not have this wonderful, beautiful planet, they might not have sufficient resources. Every time an airplane takes off and every time we turn on our car engine to drive across town, we release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The unimaginable will happen, and our brains appear to be unable to accept this.

Suzanne Winters, Los Angeles

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