Letters: The U.S. had nothing to gain by attending climate conference

"I'm glad the U.S. didn't send a delegation to COP30, the two-week-long U.N. Climate Change Conference in Brazil this month. This costly annual event accomplishes next to nothing (other than CO2 emissions from all the private jets flying in). Press releases touted the progress China is making in reducing greenhouse gases, while complaining the U.S. isn't doing enough. The truth, however, was hidden away in some committee reports discovered by the Economist magazine of London. Their article noted that in 2023, CO2 emissions from China were more than double the emissions from the U.S. and Europe combined."

"(China still builds new coal-powered electric generating plants, while exporting all but a tiny fraction of the solar panels and windmills it manufactures.) The Economist also pointed out that, over the past decade, the U.S. has led the world in the reduction of CO2 emissions, primarily by burning natural gas rather than coal."

"I find it ridiculous that people are trying to cancel Mallard Filmore because they disagree with his conservative-leaning views. Different views are important to democracy. Where were these people during the eight years of brutal attacks by Doonesbury against President Bush? Perhaps only their views are the correct ones? If Mallard is canceled, be sure you cancel Doonesbury and every other strip with an opinion."

The United States did not send a delegation to COP30 and attendance is characterized as costly and producing little benefit while generating CO2 from attendees' private jets. China emitted more than double the CO2 of the U.S. and Europe combined in 2023, continues building coal-fired power plants, and exports most of its manufactured solar panels and wind turbines. Over the past decade the United States led global CO2 reductions largely by switching from coal to natural gas. Attempts to cancel the Mallard Filmore comic are criticized as threats to viewpoint diversity. About 85% of Americans receive insurance through Medicare, Medicaid, or employers, while roughly 7% rely on ACA exchanges; the ACA supplements households unable to afford coverage.

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