Barb and Greg Whitchurch

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We have built a world of remarkable convenience, a world where almost-instant gratification is often just a click away. But this progress has a dark side: pollution. It is not just about overflowing landfills or smog-choked cities; it is about the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the increasingly volatile climate that shapes our lives.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (world champion bodybuilder, movie star, and former Governor of California) has been one of the few Republican champions of climate action (www.bit.ly/ct-arnold-cc). Schwarzenegger told CBS News, “As long as they keep talking about global climate change, they are not gonna go anywhere, because no one gives a s–t about that.”

“Climate change” can sound distant and abstract, but “pollution” is visceral, immediate, and terrifying. Because pollution is not just about the future; it is about the cancers, breathing problems, and extreme weather events impacting your life right now.

We are Exhausted! Pollution’s Pervasive Reach

From the exhaust fumes of our cars to the smoke billowing from our bonfires and BBQs, and from the emissions of factories to the invisible byproducts of cooking and heating in our homes, the common thread is combustion. We keep on burning stuff. This exhaust, the lifeblood of our modern world, is also our poison. It contaminates the air we breathe (www.bit.ly/who-air-poll), the rivers and oceans that sustain us, the groundwater we drink, and the very soil in which we grow our crops.

Air pollution fuels climate change, leading to more frequent and intense weather disasters, from floods and wildfires to droughts and heatwaves. Here in New England, we now have ticks and Lyme disease, ash tree borers, and worse – as invasives become indigenous.

We have been “soiling our nest” and getting away with it for a long time now. Using our rivers and streams as sewers went on for too long before we admitted that something had to be done.

A related example. We used to warn people about smoking in the house, in the car, around kids – to little effect. After many decades and government action, the message seems to have sunk in, mostly. But it has been aided by personal experiences of asthma, emphysema, COPD and lung cancer (www.bit.ly/nejm-cc-ff-children).

However, now many people insist on using gas ranges in spite of warnings, and are injuring themselves and their families with the toxic fumes. The most dangerous fumes have no odor, and range hoods are not a solution: if you can smell the bacon, you are breathing the poisons, too (www.bit.ly/yt-gaslighting ). The excuses people use to justify this behavior are not very different than those used by smokers long ago (www.bit.ly/get-snell).

Another example. Our house is in Middlesex, Vermont, eight miles from the Capitol building in Montpelier. Both towns have experienced “100 year” flooding for the past two years. The Town had not yet completed road damage repairs from 2023 when the 2024 storm hit. The Great Brook next to our road overflowed, washing out sections of the road, destroying bridges, yards and driveways, felling trees, and filling basements with mud. For most of the past two summers and falls we have lived with the sound of huge machines repairing the road and the stream banks. But those machines created so much more pollution (many of them left running even while not in use), that one resident posted a sign that read, “Pollution caused this disaster, so if you’re stopping by to gawk at the devastation, at least turn your engine off.”

A Choice We Can No Longer Avoid: Is “Maybe Later” Still Our Answer?

A piece of good news is that most of this pollution is avoidable. We have the technology, the knowledge, and the resources to transition to cleaner, more sustainable ways of living. Renewable energy sources, sustainable agriculture practices, electric vehicles and equipment are all readily available, offering viable alternatives to our current polluting habits.
Remember, the pollution we create between right now and when we finally cut back does not go away when we stop. It will stay with us, making our lives worse for decades to come.

Making these changes requires a shift in mindset and a little effort. We should challenge our personal status quo and embrace new technologies and practices. And yes, it often comes with a price tag, at least in the short term. (The money comes back eventually, but the benefits of safety, comfort, health and reliability are immediate.) So, the question becomes: is it worth it?

The answer is a resounding “Yes.” The cost of inaction is — already has been! — far greater. The cost of polluted air, contaminated water, and a destabilized climate is measured in human lives, economic losses, and the irreversible damage to our planet. We can no longer afford to prioritize short-term convenience over long-term sustainability (www.bit.ly/ct-poll-scam).

Taking Action: From Awareness to Advocacy

So, what can we do? How can we move from recognizing the problem to actively participating in the solution?

• Educate Yourself: Knowledge is power. Learn about the sources of pollution, its impacts, and the available solutions. Websites, documentaries, and local environmental organizations are great resources (www.bit.ly/po-dupes).

• Lead by Example: Actions speak louder than words. Make changes in your own life to reduce your environmental footprint. Switch to energy-efficient appliances, choose sustainable transportation options, and support businesses that prioritize sustainability. Others will notice and be inspired when they see someone else making personal progress.

• Embrace Electric: Almost every appliance and machine is now available in an electric version. Start small, perhaps with a battery lawn tool or induction cooktop, and experience the benefits firsthand. (Induction cooktops and ranges are one good way to cook electrically.) Share your experiences with others and encourage them to make the switch. Tell your friends and neighbors about it, write something about it for your local paper, post it on social media, lend it out, give it as a birthday gift, make it a raffle prize. The sky is the limit! (Note: The authors have loaned out several portable induction cooktops, leading to several kitchens with new induction stoves. www.bit.ly/yt-induction-pro)

• Engage with Your Community: Join or start a local energy committee, participate in community cleanups, and advocate for environmental policies at the local level. Your voice matters (www.bit.ly/mdx-mec).

• Involve the Schools: Encourage your schools to incorporate environmental education into their curriculum and support student-led initiatives to address pollution and climate change.

We are at a crossroads. We can continue down the path of environmental degradation, or we can choose a better future. However, not taking a stand is, in effect, choosing to continue polluting – which is how we got here in the first place (www.bit.ly/get-w-culpa).

As Schwarzenegger reminds us, we need to shift our focus from the abstract concept of climate change to the very real and immediate threat of pollution. Because pollution is not just about the planet; it is about our personal health, our communities, and our future. And that’s something we can all understand (www.bit.ly/lrb-climate-break).

The Whitchurches own a Passive House with solar PV, drive EVs, and use battery-operated tools and equipment. They are frequent contributors to this publication.