Letter: Vote for candidates who make climate a priority

Please do not vote for any candidate who does not have a livable planet as a priority issue.

The planet is showing many signs of becoming unliveable. The flood in Houston is the latest example. The Arctic ice is disintegrating a month early. The jet stream is abnormal due to the high temperatures in the Arctic. An Iran city recorded 114 F with a record heat index of 165 F recently. The Lut Desert in Iran has had a temperature of 159 F. The Antarctic just recorded a temperature of - 79 F. The extremes are going both ways.

Cold fresh melt water is coming from Greenland and the Arctic Ocean creating a cold spot off the East Coast. It creates cold air. Cold air colliding with hot air creates the potential for another huge hurricane. The global average temperatures have hit record highs for the last 15 months. Livable levels of methane are 1250 ppb. The Arctic recently recorded a methane spike above 3000 ppb. Livable carbon dioxide levels are of 350 ppm, 409 ppm was recently recorded. There are estimates from 10,000 trillion cubic feet to more than 100,000 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the world's methane hydrates. These can thaw and release methane. Methane decomposition, increasing hydroxyls and the use of biochar are three suggestions.

The League of Conservation Voters has Sen. Chuck Grassley at 96 percent and Congressman Rod Blum at 97 percent for voting against legislation to preserve a livable planet. Do not vote for them.

Harold Hensel

Cedar Rapids