Tag: Climate Disasters

Texas climate disaster

Texans are Counting on Sen. Ted Cruz to do the Right Thing on Climate Change

On By Kalpana SutariaIn CCLATX, Extreme Weather, Natural Disaster1 Comment

Re: Nov. 17 op-ed. Ted Cruz has a chance to lead on climate change. Texans should demand it.

As a Texan who is deeply concerned about the effects of global warming on millions of people in Texas, I want Sen. Ted Cruz to listen to all his constituents. We have lived through wildfires, hurricanes, floods, winter storms and droughts. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, our state has a distinction of having 188 weather disasters from 1980 to 2024, with losses exceeding $1 billion each. Millions of Texans have suffered physically, mentally and financially.

While overseeing the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee we want Sen. Cruz to work for the safety and welfare of all people across our country to reduce risks and losses. The majority of U.S. citizens want elected leaders to address the climate crisis by working together like Sen. John McCain did. It is not a partisan issue; global warming affects all of us. You can do it Sen. Cruz!

Kalpana Sutaria, Project Manager, City of Austin and Member, Austin Metro Chapter, Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Published by the Austin American-Statesman

November 24, 2024

LTE Under Consideration: The Year 2022 and Climate

On By CCLATXIn Clean EnergyLeave a comment

The year 2022 was a remarkable year for the climate.

  • The U.S. emissions went up by 1.3%
  • It was the 6th warmest year according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It should have been cooler being a Le Nina year.
  • According to Dr. Hansen, 2022 was 0.04 degree Celsius warmer than 2021 likely because more energy is coming in than going out.
  • The 10-warmest years on record have occurred since year 2010.
  • The US had 18 one billion plus dollar climate disasters.

We had news to celebrate 2022. Inflation Reduction Act was the largest ever climate bill that was passed by the U.S. Congress. Volunteers of Citizens Climate Lobby have work to do by reaching out to the state and city governments and ensure that allocated federal dollars are invested in clean energy sources to bring the emissions down.

This will improve our health and quality of life.

Kalpana Sutaria

Project Manager, City of Austin and Member, Citizens Climate Lobby Austin Chapter

Submitted to the San Antonio Express News

January 2023

More fossil fuel plants will lead to more climate-related disasters

On By CCLATXIn Clean EnergyLeave a comment

Re: July 7 article, “Abbott orders utility commission to shore up Texas power grid, targets renewable energy.”

Current headlines are full of reports of climate-related disasters — fires in California, 120-plus degree heat in Canada, and on and on.

Yet, Gov. Abbott calls for more natural gas and coal power plants, which will only make climate problems worse.

Past Republican governors, Bush and Perry, led the way for Texas’ becoming a leader in wind energy.

Clean energy is not just a Democratic thing. It’s a human thing.

Philip Russell

Austin American-Statesman

July 9, 2021