An overwhelming percentage of climate scientists believe climate change is caused mostly by human activity and that it is a growing threat with a wide range of negative consequences from changing patterns of precipitation, stronger storms, and rising sea levels to migration and extinction of many species of plants and animals.

Dr. Paul Mayewski, director of the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine, Orono, a distinguished internationally recognized authority in our own midst, has much data to support the above listed phenomena.

In Europe and Canada, an approach called the precautionary principle is applied to matters of human welfare. Whenever there is question about actions taken or products released, it is safer to act in such a way as to avoid an unforeseen detriment. Thus, it behooves us to act immediately to halt and reverse the buildup of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. We have an ethical obligation to current and future generations of people — and to all living things – to reign in this course we are on. Our failure to do so in effect results in stealing from all who come after us.

I urge Sen. Collins to vote on any and all measures necessary to reverse the trajectory we are on.

Bronda M. Niese,

Brunswick