Letters

Ed Surgan [“Fool Me Once,” Letters, March 9] draws attention to the University of California, Davis, Climate and Community Project’s conclusion that today’s electric vehicles are not the climate solution we need. But Mr. Surgan ignores the report’s key recommendation: to build higher-density cities and rebuild the nation’s transportation infrastructure focused on public transit, walking, e-bikes, and fewer cars with smaller EV batteries. We need to prioritize climate adaptation and mitigation. The scale of change is both large and small.

An adjacent column by Karl Grossman [“Why Move Back?” Suffolk Closeup, March 9] spotlights new research that ranks Long Island fourth in the nation in “highest chronic physical risk among the 100 most populous areas” and the importance of beachfront retreat.

Smaller local climate efforts also are essential. The Ecological Culture Initiative composting program [“From Eggshells to Black Gold: Ecological Cultural Initiative’s Community Compost Program,” 27east.com, March 8] and Shinnecock kelp farming [“Nature Conservancy Grant Will Help Shinnecock Kelp Farmers Expand Their Operation,” 27east.com, March 8] in Hampton Bays are the latest examples of effective climate- and ecology-smart community projects.

Whether we label climate change (or our neighbors) as alarmist or hopeful is entirely our choosing. Jenny Noble’s “Sustainable Living” essay [“Climate Change: The Optimist’s Reading List,” Arts & Living, March 9] gives all of us some effective tools to embrace each other and our world with a mindset of optimism and hope. Her public library best picks include Jane Goodall’s 2021 book, “The Book of Hope,” and Saul Griffith’s 2022 book, “Electrify: An Optimist’s Playbook for our Clean Energy Future.”

Scott Carlin

Hampton Bays