Common Sense Readers Sound Off About Climate Change

We asked eight questions about climate change. Here is what we found out.
Everyone who responded agreed that climate change is real. Apparently, there are no climate change deniers among Common Sense readers!
All respondents see a direct link between human activity and climate change:
• They think human activity is a cause of climate change.
• They believe that human activity has a major effect on climate change.
• They believe that man-made climate change is the underlying cause of recent hurricanes and storms, large forest fires, losses of polar ice, and sea level increases.
Ninety-three percent of respondents answered that they think climate change is, sooner or later, a threat to life on earth. Seven percent said “No” to this question. Of those, two took issue with how we worded the question. Jim Bogden said, “I don't think that ‘climate change is, sooner or later, a threat to life on earth,’ but it is a real threat to modern human civilization!” Bill Flook commented that “Your question, ‘Threat to life on earth’ is poorly worded. Life itself will survive whatever we do to the climate, in some form. Human life will change radically in quality, and millions will die ...”
There was broad support for an active government role in fighting climate change. The question we asked was “What should the government (U.S, state, local) do to counter climate change?”
• 100 percent answered the government should “Support non-fossil fuel energy uses such as wind and solar power by tax incentives, rebates, loans, and other support to businesses and individuals.”
• 98 percent felt the government should “Require better energy efficiency and conservation in cars, homes, buildings, industry.”
• 96 percent said “Fund efforts and research to reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere.”
• 98 percent answered “Fund efforts and research to reduce agricultural and industrial waste in our water and soil.”
• No one answered that the government should do “Nothing.”
Every respondent indicated that their household has taken steps to reduce environmental harm and climate change. The chart below shows the frequency of adoption of particular steps. (Multiple answers were allowed.)
Finally, we asked for additional comments. Several people commented on the need for more and better recycling options. Here are some others:
“Every year, we set new records: worst forest fires, most ice melt, most hurricanes (we're up to Iota!), highest average temperatures. It's possible to pretend that it doesn't affect us, but I suspect that if nothing is done, the Eastern Shore is going to be a wetland, or they'll be renaming the two bays because they've joined together into one.”
~Karen from Wicomico Co.
"As a lifelong [71 years and counting] Eastern Shoreman who has always been focused on the water I can say that the effects of sea level rise [and the concomitant erosion and ‘slump’ it causes] are utterly alarming.”
~Johnson Fortenbaugh, Talbot Co. 40 yrs., Kent Co. 31 yrs.
"The other elephant in the room is overpopulation — a huge problem with no easy solutions. Combined with climate change — which is likely to render much cropland unusable by the end of this century — unchecked population rise is going pose an existential threat to the kind of lifestyle most of us in the West now consider normal. And, as I said, there are no easy solutions in sight.”
~Kent Co. resident
“I've personally watched farmers and homeowners in Kent County lose their land to increased flooding and sea level rise due to climate change.”
~Kent Co. resident
“I live on the Bay and in only 2 years I've seen changes along the shoreline most likely attributable to rising water levels. I also see major erosion. If muddy silt runoff continues into the Bay no wonder the water level rises.”
~Kent Co. resident
“What level of rise of sea level would it take for sea water to invade our drinking water sources?”
~Kent Co. resident
As this subject is very important to readers of Common Sense, we will continue to publish articles that address the impact of climate change on the Eastern Shore and the efforts to deal with it.
Thank you to everyone who participated!
Common Sense for the Eastern Shore




