Act against climate change, trip to Gothenburg, Sweden | Letters
Act on climate change
The federal government is curtailing programs meant to reduce the growing dangers of climate change, though a recent poll conducted in part by The Associated Press–NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicated that 78 percent of Americans believe climate change is real.
It is puzzling that some politicians scoff at the obvious relationship between greenhouse gases and global warming. Nobel Prize winner Svante Arrhenius wrote in 1896 that carbon dioxide could cause warming of the Earth’s surface. U.S. scientists began monitoring carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere in Hawaii in 1958 and have documented that levels have climbed from 315 parts per million to more than 420.
Warmer temperatures melt the polar ice caps, causing sea levels to rise. This contributes to weather anomalies including increased rainfall, stronger tropical storms and increased sea levels. According to a Post and Courier article, 35 of the 49 major tidal floods Charleston has experienced since 1921 have occurred in the past decade.
Additionally, warming of polar oceans can result in slowing ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream, which flows due to the sinking of dense, cold water in the northern latitudes. Significant slowing of northward-flowing currents could result in catastrophic cooling in northern Europe. Scientists have already documented in a 2023 study that the Gulf Stream has slowed 4 percent over the past 40 years.
The U.S. government is pulling support of solar and wind energy while China is now leading the world in renewable low-carbon energy investments, investing $818 billion in 2024.
Before it’s too late, our leaders must take responsible action to address global climate change.
DAVID WHITAKER
Charleston
Gothenburg worth visit
I read Stephanie Hunt’s article about Gothenburg, Sweden, with interest, as it was published while I was vacationing there with my family. She perfectly characterized the energy and charm that have drawn us back to the city.
While Ms. Hunt mentioned the region’s seafood, she missed the opportunity to describe North Atlantic shrimp. They are much smaller than our local shrimp, but incredibly sweet and flavorful. Skagen toast, which is a Swedish specialty featuring shrimp salad, is a delicious treat that I enjoyed any time I saw it on a menu.
In addition, traveling with kids solidified just how family-friendly Sweden is, with public playgrounds in even the smallest villages. It also gave us a reason to enjoy another of Gothenburg’s attractions: the Liseberg amusement park, the largest in Scandinavia. Our kids are begging to return there when they are tall enough to ride the biggest roller coasters.
Gothenburg is well worth the visit. If only it were easier to get there.
SARA EWING
Charleston
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