To the editor: Administrator Lee Zeldin seems to have misunderstood the true purpose of the Environmental Protection Agency. It’s not about making cars cheaper or boosting business profits, as highlighted in the article “Trump’s EPA takes steps to roll back dozens of environmental regulations” dated March 12. The real mission of the EPA is straightforward: to protect human health and the environment. Many of us hoped that you would uphold the values of this mission, and also honor your Jewish principles by doing everything possible to safeguard American lives, safety, and future generations. Protecting our planet and sustaining life — that’s what “l’dor v’dor” (meaning “from generation to generation” in Hebrew) calls for.
Contrary to expectations, you’re aligning yourself with the fossil fuel industry, an industry fully aware of its role in the escalating climate emergency. You’ve just heralded “31 historic actions” that will dismantle years of climate advancements. You’ve also dismissed scientists and health experts, eliminated the environmental justice division, and withdrawn funds meant for clean energy, eco-friendly cars, and buses.
Scientific consensus warns that weakening long-standing safeguards to increase fossil fuel extraction and combustion will only speed up the march toward climate disaster, jeopardizing the future of all humanity.
Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, New York
Founder and CEO of Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action
To the editor: It’s troubling that certain leaders on the right are choosing to disregard the extensive body of scientific evidence pointing to human-induced climate change. What they’re essentially suggesting is that, over the span of industrialization, the billions of tons of pollutants humans have released into our Earth’s atmosphere have somehow had no effect. Frankly, that’s just absurd.
Steven Rice, Thousand Oaks
To the editor: It’s concerning to see our new EPA administrator celebrate the dismantling of efforts to cut greenhouse gases by claiming, “We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion.” If he truly wants to understand the implications of his words, I recommend visiting former residents of Altadena and Pacific Palisades. These are individuals who had stable homes for a century, homes now affected by what he deems “mythological” climate change.
Douglas Green, Sherman Oaks
To the editor: There’s a plethora of scientific data and numerous researchers devoted to the study of climate change, proving its reality and urgency. Those of us engaged in combating climate change rely on this scientific evidence, not on any form of religious belief.
Murray Zichlinsky, Long Beach
To the editor: Hearing the news about budget cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the EPA was truly disheartening. These agencies, established back in 1970 by Republican President Richard Nixon, played critical roles when rivers were igniting, the air was hazardous to breathe, and homes were being erected on toxic sites. The EPA has been protecting Americans from these hazards, whereas the NOAA provides crucial insights regarding our oceans, atmospheric conditions, and weather extremes like hurricanes and tornadoes, as well as atmospheric rivers and climate alterations.
Phil Beauchamp, Chino Hills
