Two related items in the Oct. 23 News caught my eye. One announced a teach-in supporting the International Day of Climate Action and the other cited a poll that reported that the percentage of Americans who believe in global warming, and in the effects of human activity on it, has declined. I say hurray for the former and shame on the latter.

The science is clear. Global warming is real, and we are part of the cause. I don’t understand the opposition. Are people afraid we may be mandated to cut back on our all-too-often profligate lifestyles? It seems to me that if, to save the planet, we are required to adopt a more modest standard of living, to reduce gluttonous consumption and to cut back on our obscenely large waste stream, we are better stewards of the earth for it.

Russell Shefrin

Colden