To the Editor:
Re “Fringe Climate Proposal, a Giant Space Parasol, Gains Interest” (front page, Feb. 3):
The idea that we should invest trillions of dollars to construct a giant space umbrella to shield our planet from the sun is preposterous. It would be too expensive, come too late and risk “termination shock” in case of a major malfunction or accident.
If NASA or other space agencies move forward to spend millions for a pilot, perhaps it should be named the Icarus Project for its hubris.
We need to get real, create consensus on the ground that the climate challenge is serious, and build out already existing solutions to the problem right here on Earth.
Job 1: Accelerate a global transition away from a fossil-fuel-based economy.
Eric W. Orts
Philadelphia
The writer is a professor of legal studies and business ethics at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He was the faculty director of the Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership from 2007 to 2020.
To the Editor:
Re “Parents Help Three Evicted Migrant Families Find New Homes” (news article, Feb. 5):
One can feel nothing but admiration for the humanity of those Brooklyn residents who gave sanctuary to families battered by harrowing migration experiences. By focusing on the individual, rather than on the aggregate, we sidestep a core question: Are there limits to what the present broken national and municipal systems can handle?
Even with the best intentions, reform, international agreements and proper resourcing will take time. Global immigration patterns have shifted and put pressure on not only our laws and abilities, but also on our moral obligations. There is an infinity of suffering in this world; how to address it is a part of the crisis of our age.
Steven Berkowitz
New York