This country faces many problems, but only one existential crisis — climate change. The world’s inhabitants are in the process of destroying the conditions that allowed human civilization to develop and thrive. Given this dire threat, people must adopt a sense of national urgency around this issue. Every person, company and government entity has a part to play. Politicians, who are elected to act in the best interests of the public, should be taking the lead on this, and not just the ones down in Washington, D.C. State legislators, mayors, city councillors — and even school committee members — should place climate change at the top of their priority list.

By relentlessly reducing carbon pollution wherever possible, humankind may just be able to save itself, and future generations.

Kiernan Majerus-Collins, Lewiston