Western Springs, Ill.: As global warming and its destructive effects increase, President Trump continued his denial and did not send an official delegation to the world climate conference in Belem, Brazil.

The cost of hurricanes, floods, wildfires and other climate-related disasters in the United States that each cost at least $1 billion in damages continues to escalate at a record pace. Paralleling this, levels of heat-trapping carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels climbed by the largest amount on record from 2023 to 2024. A hotter planet means warmer oceans, which generate stronger hurricanes. Warmer air holds more moisture, which means heavier downpours and floods. Warmer air and drought related to climate change dry out vegetation, including agriculture, setting the stage for greater wildfires.

In most cases, solar and wind energy are cheaper than fossil fuels for the simple reason that fuel costs are zero. Ever-improving battery storage provides energy when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. Solar and wind energy look even better when the costs of fossil fuels’ health-threatening pollution and damage from climate change-related extreme weather are considered.

Yet, Trump proclaims that climate change is a hoax and does everything he can to promote fossil fuels and block solar and wind energy as he and his fellow Republicans haul in millions of dollars in campaign contributions from fossil fuel interests. In contrast, China is surging to a wide lead in solar panels, wind turbines, battery storage and electric vehicles — all powerful, prestigious, job-creating and wealth-producing industries. If not for large contributions, what would U.S. energy policy look like? Richard Barsanti

Brooklyn: Voicer Chuck Shannon made light of my letter about mandating that AI centers be powered by wind and solar. He said they wouldn’t generate enough electricity to charge his cell phone. Meanwhile, these AI centers are robbing us blind by drawing extreme levels of energy while the public foots the bill with power outages and inflated electric rates. If these powerful companies, many of........

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