Peter Haas’ astute analysis of the recent climate summit in Dubai (”Was COP28 a transition point?” Dec 18), summarizes what successes there were and where the convention fell short. Countries agreed to transition away from fossil fuels, but with no concrete targets or means of enforcement, the agreement could be meaningless. We can’t let that stand. Our hope lies in Haas’ statement that “Beyond public pressure and peer pressure there is no accountability for countries that do not pay their promised commitments to the developing world.”

The agreement lacks enforcement provisions and legal accountability, but we can hold countries accountable if we apply the public pressure Haas suggests. We, the people, can join together to pressure our governments to honor their commitments and address the climate emergency we all face. We can all participate in this effort, making our voices heard through letters, phone calls, demonstrations, and votes.

Don’t know where to start? Start with your representatives in Congress, or write to the White House. There is strength in numbers — if you don’t want to act on your own, there are many effective groups committed to fighting climate change, each one with ways to amplify your voice. Find one that feels right for you. It’s time we act. If our governments aren’t doing it fast enough, we need to pressure them to. Climate change waits for no one, and neither should we.

Sia Stewart

Conway