(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers.)

To the editor:

James Healey and millions of young people around the world have got that right: it’s way past time to get serious about the climate crisis (“Getting serious about climate change,” 4/17). Watching the dedicated activists from the Sunrise Movement, from Extinction Rebellion and the school-based Climate Strike take action all over the world, we can see just how far ahead of their leaders these young people are.

As they take their movement global, an important step would be to enlarge the scope of the demands. Climate change doesn’t stop at borders, and the Green New Deal will only address our one nation’s (outsized) greenhouse gas problem. The Paris climate accords did suggest a global approach through the Green Climate Fund. Nearly forgotten, way underfunded and barely functioning, the GCF was founded on pledges to raise $100 billion by 2020 for renewable energy and other projects in countries too capital-poor to make use of their own renewable resources.

Wealthy nations like ours will need to take responsibility for these global projects. A large portion should be assessed to fossil fuel companies who earn mega-profits at the climate’s expense. Our current administration has of course withdrawn all participation, but activists should start now demanding that a new, sane government require corporate GCF funding as part of its climate plan.

Brent Whelan
Allston