To the Editor:

Governor Sununu deserves a nod for expressing his concern for New Hampshire’s environment (The Exchange, July 10.) His support for NH hydro and geothermal energy sources would reduce our carbon dioxide emissions. However, he should reconsider his position to not join the Climate Change Alliance for the following reasons.

On the Exchange program the Governor dismissed New York and California as the biggest polluters. However, their populations are 20 and 39 million, as compared to only 1.3 million here. Thus, the per capita emissions in New Hampshire of 11.25 metric tons are larger than 8.62 for New York and 9.26 for California. Therefore, we must join if we are to lead.

Sununu reminded listeners of his MIT degree and studies as reasons why he was uncertain whether carbon emissions are a leading cause of climate change. The science has evolved greatly since he graduated in 1998. One need go no further for evidence of research advances than a March 6, 2017 letter to President Trump from 21 professors in the MIT Atmospheres, Oceans, and Climate Program. The professors state, “the risks to the Earth system associated with increasing levels of carbon dioxide are almost universally agreed by climate scientists to be real ones.”

New Hampshire should join the thirteen states now in the Climate Change Alliance. Let’s lead and not be left behind.

Paul H. Carr

MIT 1957

Bedford