What Is My Responsibility?

Richmond, Virginia Airport

February 15, 2026

So the US EPA under Trump has found in its finite wisdom that greenhouse gases are not a threat to human health. What a crock of poop.

The science of what CO2, methane and the other greenhouse gases do in terms of trapping heat in our atmosphere in my educated-mind is indisputable. The argument that we need more CO2 in our atmosphere because plants need CO2 is laughable. Sure they use CO2 but too much CO2 is net net harmful to humans (and plants due to added heat, drought, etc.)

Apparently the argument now being made is that the Clean Air Act of 1970 does not allow the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. If we had a functioning Congress it seems there would be a straightforward answer — pass a law that requires EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. But we have an inept (understatement) Congress that can’t do anything.

I’ll agree that the “marketing” of climate change has brought out the “crazies” who have argued extreme positions -- on both sides. The press has done a poor job, in general, of reporting on this issue and sensationalized the potential effects. Climate change became a political issue rather than a scientific issue. And politicians have run for the corners, taking positions that are not based on science but based on their opposition to the other party.

What is my responsibility given this terribly troubling situation? I spent the bulk of my career supporting renewable energy by managing and financing such facilities. I keep my house at 60 degrees in the winter to limit my use of propane and electric heat. But that’s not enough. What can I do to convince others that we must continue to fight greenhouse gas emissions?