52 | NewScientist | 20 April 2019[email protected] @newscientist newscientist
LETTERSYour piece on the school
strike gives me hopeFrom Ellen Okamura,
Austin, Texas, US
I’ve grown up reading my father’s
copies of New Scientist, and as a
student at the University of Texas
at Austin, I have been learning
about oceanography and the
effects of climate change. I was
delighted to read about the youth
of the world coming together to
combat the detrimental actions
that have been contributing to
global warming (newscientist.
com/article/2194067).
The fact that they are taking a
stand through the “school strikes
for climate” at such a young age
should be enough to show how
urgent this situation is. Your
article has also given me hope for
the future: more kids are being
educated and are actively helping
to preserve our planet. Mostelementary schools – especially
in the US – don’t have a solid
curriculum for teaching about
global warming, but this is
starting to change. There has
been a gradual shift in beliefs and
behaviour by some parents, who
are now doing what they can to
help their kids speak out.
As a fellow student, I agree that
climate change is very real, and
there is an excess of scientific
data that show the beginning of
the disastrous impact of our past
actions. The governments of the
world need to act now, before it
is too late.Population replacement
may have been differentFrom Cathryn Iliffe,
Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK
Colin Barras reports work on the
spread of Yamnaya culture from
the Eurasian steppes (30 March,From David Flint,
London, UK
Adam Vaughan reports measures we
could take to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions from transport (30 March,
p 23). As he says, they will not be
enough. That’s because one thing is
missing: panic. Academics and policy
wonks are still talking as if we areEDITOR’S PICKfacing an ordinary problem, like
stagnant productivity. We are facing
a crisis, an existential threat. As Greta
Thunberg says, we must “act as if
the house is on fire. Because it is.”
The time for seeking ideas that
don’t damage economic growth is
over. Trade and growth are parts of the
problem. We need policies that reduce
emissions every year this century.
Travel by road produces three-
quarters of transport emissions. It is
vital that we instigate a carbon tax,
a rapid shift to electric vehicles and
more and better public transport.
We should encourage low-traffic
neighbourhoods and active travel,
such as cycling. The lifestyle that
follows will be healthier and happier,
as we exercise more and breathe
clearer air. What is good for us is
what is good for the planet.It’s past time for ordinary climate solutions
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We have now reached over 15,000 previously out-
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