The virtuous arms race gives us hope against the climate crisis

It was heartening to read Nick O’Malley’s informative report on the rapid global spread of renewable energy (“Now Here’s the Good News on Climate,” June 11). As such, energy analyst Tim Buckley believes “2023 will be a game changer” for climate solutions. However, the transformative growth of renewable energy must be accompanied by a steady and sharp decline in fossil energy. Unfortunately, global emissions from fossil fuels hit a record high in 2022. Tim Buckley’s insights and the concept of a “virtuous arms race” towards decarbonization are inspiring and give hope. I believe in human ingenuity, but we are on the precipice of the climate crisis. Can we get through the fossil fuel juggernaut in time? We must. Amy Hiller, Kew (VIC)

While Nick O’Malley didn’t ask us which news we wanted first, he gave us the good news. The news that “for every dollar invested in fossil fuels, about $1.7 goes into renewable energy” sounded great, but given what we know, why is investing in new fossil fuels at all anymore? If we continue to open new coal and gas projects and burn the products without capturing the carbon (as reported by the IEA) then we will still be emitting and temperatures will continue to rise. It seems that the late Stephen Hawking’s warning that “we are in danger of destroying ourselves by our greed and stupidity” goes unheeded. Ray Peck, Hawthorn (Vic)

Trump idolizes

For someone like Donald Trump, who constantly touted the need to immortalize national security documents, it seems inconceivable that he would be the one to betray that promise (“Trump Hit with 37 Criminal Charges,” June 11). But after four years of being idolized and held in a mixture of fear and awe by Republicans, evangelical Christians, and a gullible section of the public, that’s not at all surprising. This adoration fed his distorted, narcissistic view of himself as outside the law and free to do as he pleased without being punished. And in America today, where he’s still a presidential candidate, he might very well be. Trevor Somerville, Illawong

tooth saver

I really don’t understand the demand for bagels and sourdough (“Are Bagels the New Sandwich? Here are 10 of the Best for a Hole-in-One,” June 11). Both require more than the maximum attainable bite force of the incisors of 22 kg (for females) to make an indentation in the crust. Give me mashed avocado on plain white bread every day. I may not have quite the culinary delights of the aficionados who prefer their almond sourdough, but I’ll at least go home with a full set of choppers. Elizabeth Maher, Fiddletown

transportation problems

Fair comments from correspondents on the development of the Parramatta CBD and the flooding, but what were the planners thinking as they planned the routes and stops for light rail and subway lines (Letters, 11 June)? The light rail has a stop, said to be called ‘Rosehill Gardens’, about 600m from the main entrance to the racecourse, on an uncovered walkway, while the underground line from Westmead runs underground and departs just south of the racecourse, with no stops everything for patrons. George Zivkovic, Northmead

toilet talk

In recent decades, there has been a legitimate increase in global concern about the extent of obesity (“What America’s Toilets Are Telling Us About the Shitty Lies Rich People Peddle,” June 11). Parnell McGuiness provides a fascinating reflection on obesity in North America from the perspective of toilet sizes, particularly the differences between affluent and disadvantaged areas. She appears to have been familiar with one of the hundreds of research papers on risk factors associated with obesity and suggested to readers that the “comfortable citizen” had a “reliable formula” for avoiding obesity. It was about finishing high school, working full-time, and getting married before having kids. Scientists studying the complexity of factors associated with the development of overweight and obesity, which usually begins early in life and then increases throughout childhood, would be disappointed if they viewed the problem, and therefore possible solutions, in this way would see displayed. Alan Russell, Netherlands (SA)