As Pogo said in Walt Kelly’s eponymous comic strip of the 1950s to mid-1970s, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” One could capitalize the U.S. because we are one of the world’s worst greenhouse gas polluters per capita. There are so many easy things we can all do to lower our individual contributions, but are we willing to do so? It’s easier to blame China and India than improve our own behavior.
The use of gas-powered leaf blowers is going to be phased out in Portland, (“Ban on gas leaf blowers passed in Portland; gradual phase-out begins in 2026,” March 13). Stop using them now! Why wait? You’re adding a quantifiable and unnecessary volume of greenhouse gases to the air. Pay your lawn service more, offer them the use of your house electricity so that they can use electric blowers, ask them to use rakes, and be satisfied with a slightly less spiffy-looking yard. Help yard care companies make the transition. Your desire to have that cleaned-up look leaves the air dirtier – forever.