Thanks to reporter Chris Larabee for the article about our recent weather variability [“Region reeling from ‘weather whiplash,” Recorder, Aug. 5]. I appreciate the chin-scratching about which elements of our current weather can be attributed to climate change: Scientists must be careful and consider all possible explanations. But that shouldn’t distract us from the things we do know. Climate change is here, is increasingly destructive, and is caused by burning fossil fuels. While scientists pursue the fine points, the rest of us need to take action. Tell our leaders (loudly) that the extraction of fossil fuels must stop, now. Tell local authorities to prepare for future floods, droughts, and storms, now. The Connecticut River will flood again, taking farm crops with it. What are we doing about that, now?

Sue Donaldson

Northampton

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