Plans to Combat Global Warming

Does Donella H. Meadows (Commentary, Oct. 27) receive fat grants from the petroleum industry? In her sales pitch for the global-warming treaty, she says, “Europeans pay four times as much for gas as we do without whining.”

Earth to Donella--if enough people spew that rubbish, gas companies will quadruple prices! They were supposed to drop at the end of summer, and they didn’t. One station owner says prices are going up 20 cents shortly, and a global-warming treaty would likely raise them another 50 cents to $1. The president has proposed fossil fuel taxes that would drive up the price of gas.

Also, since when is political dissent “propaganda”?

TIM TOLLESON

Valencia

* In an otherwise correct and insightful article, Meadows made one error. The European Union has indeed proposed binding carbon dioxide emission limits of 15% below 1990 emission levels, but by 2010, not 2005. The actual European proposal for the climate change treaty to be signed in Kyoto in December calls for 7.5% cuts below 1990 levels by 2005.

It is a completely understandable error, however: What’s five years or 7.5% when the real issue is carbon dioxide that lasts 100 years in the atmosphere and emissions that we should cut 60-80% to make significant progress toward averting disastrous climate disruption?

CHRISTA FARMER, Asst. Dir.

U.S. Climate Action Network

Washington

* Thanks for finally moving the subject of global warming to the front page (“Clinton Backs Broad Plan to Fight Global Warming,” Oct. 22). As a professional engineer and energy manager, I support aggressive action against global warming. Through my work I witness financial benefits, rather than economic doom, provided by implementing energy-efficiency projects. Investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy can reinvigorate the U.S. economy by creating thousands of domestic jobs and reducing the flow of U.S. currency to overseas oil sheiks.

The greatest financial return may result by taking prompt action against a problem that may cause unprecedented environmental and economic chaos.

CRAIG PALS

Fullerton