Arrow-right Camera

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

Lead us on climate change

I was disheartened to read in the interview with Avista CEO Scott Morris his response to Spokane’s decision to encourage more rapid movement towards 100% clean energy. Our leaders of business, government and civil society need to help people understand the massive transitions that will be required to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report indicates that we need to rapidly move towards a carbon-free society.

Morris’ response that he is responsible to how much his customers pay is accurate, but we must also be responsible for the pollution we are creating that disproportionately affects the poor and marginalized throughout the world. If we can’t reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, how can we expect impoverished countries to?

Communities like Spokane have abundant natural resources for clean energy and technological development to make the necessary changes. The only thing lacking is the leadership from business, government and civil society. Our leaders have the ability to help us recognize the benefits to so many people when we shift away from dirty fossil fuels.

Patrick Van Inwegen

Spokane



Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Fax
(509) 459-3815

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy