Here we are in election season, and the two candidates for president are once again not discussing one of this country’s most critical problems.

The World Health Organization estimates that 3.6 billion people in the world already live in areas highly vulnerable to climate change. As many as one million plant and animal species are now at risk of extinction, and entire ecosystems are unstable. Mainers along the coast experienced the reality of climate vulnerability in January.

Why are candidates avoiding this issue? Follow the money. Candidates do not wish to risk losing campaign contributions by pointing out that many corporations have put profits ahead of the well-being of the Earth.

Historically, heavy carbon emitters have diverted attention from their practices by focusing on how private citizens can make carbon-saving changes. In her excellent book, “American Breakdown,” Jennifer Lunden writes, “…while one individual can save 2.4 tons of carbon dioxide per year by going carless, in 2020 Shell alone emitted the equivalent of 1.38 billion tons of carbon dioxide.”

Major polluters need to be held accountable, and this issue belongs in local, state and national contests. The land we farm, the waters that sustain us and the air we breathe need to outweigh campaign dollars. We need to speak up and hold candidates accountable for where they stand.

Eleanor Morse

Peaks Island

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