Dear Editor,

Developed nations are rightfully expected by the non-developed world to make the first meaningful moves on decarbonisation since they’ve done the most polluting, thus environmental damage.

Many people are fleeing global warming-related extreme weather events and/or chronic crop failure in the southern hemisphere, widely believed by climate scientists to be related to the northern hemisphere’s chronic fossil fuel burning, beginning with the Industrial Revolution.

Every day of the year ought to be treated as World Earth Day and genuine efforts made to remedy and mitigate damage, not just brief news media tokenism or dismissal.

Obstacles to environmental progress were quite formidable pre-pandemic. But COVID-19 not only stalled most projects being undertaken, it added greatly to the already busy landfills and burning centres with disposable masks and other non-degradable, biohazard, protective, single-use materials.

Also increasingly problematic is the very large populace too tired and worried about feeding and housing themselves and their families while on insufficient income to worry about the environment, however much it’s needed.

Meanwhile, consumers continue throwing non-biodegradables down their garbage chutes or flushing pollutants down toilets and sink drainage pipes.

Then there are the toxic, contaminant spills in rarely visited wilderness.

Societally we still discharge out of elevated exhaust pipes, smoke stacks, and, quite consequentially, from sky-high jet engines like it’s all absorbed into the natural environment without repercussion. Clearly, it isn’t. But out of sight, out of mind, right?

Frank Sterle Jr

fgsjr2013@gmail.com