Climate stories are important

Kudos to Bellevue Reporter’s Aaron Kunkler for two fascinating climate articles in the April 19 issue. “Human Waste: unlikely climate change hero?” describes how a King County treatment plant produces a product called Loop, which can be used as a fertilizer. Loop is also rich in carbon. By producing Loop, more carbon is removed from the air than expended to treat our waste water. Using Loop on soil can lead to larger plants, which also absorb carbon and reduce our greenhouse gases.

The second article, “King County forests are facing new challenges,” describes how King County is confronting the impact of rising temperatures due to climate change. For example, thinning is one strategy to reduce fire danger. Letting in more light also allows for more diversity of species. Planting more conifers will help sequester more carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

We need more stories like these about local efforts to address climate change. However, much more needs to be done to meet the greenhouse gas reduction goals set by King County-Cities Climate Coalition. It is clear we will miss our 2020 goal to reduce greenhouse gas by 25 percent (compared to a 2007 baseline). To meet a 50 percent reduction goal by 2030 requires comprehensive planning by King County as well as our cities.

Kristi Weir

Bellevue

Letters, FBI ‘Insurance’?

All the angst from Democrats and most of the press about Russia “waging war on our democracy” ignores the reality that it began in 2014 before President Donald Trump was even a candidate. The FBI, under the Obama administration was well aware of Russian attempts to influence voters before the election but did nothing to warn the public. It looks a lot like it was the FBI’s “insurance” and would never have been raised if Democratic Party 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had won.

Bill Hirt

Bellevue