Unfortunately, there are many people, it seems primarily conservative Republicans, who do not believe the climate is affected by human activity and choices. They make the active choice not to do anything to cut greenhouse emissions partly because of their claim of the cost. Yet they seem not to care or have a problem with paying for the damage caused by more intense and longer duration storms.

The world has just seen the hottest temperatures ever recorded on our planet. Republicans back programs that increase fossil fuel exploration and use and want to repeal programs to increase non-fossil fuel energy. They give tax breaks to fossil fuel companies while wanting to take away similar subsidies from alternative energy programs.

For years, oil companies hid research that showed the burning of fossil fuels will warm the climate. In our lifetime we are seeing and living with these changes.

For many years taxpayers have spent tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars to repair damage from storms made worse by human activity. Countless lives have been lost.

We do not stand alone in the world. Our actions affect all of human life and the biodiversity of our planet. It is short-sighted and selfish to not make our decisions with our planet in mind. We must end the culture war on climate change and make decisions based on facts.

Stan Tetenman, Poland