Monday, September 3, 2007

Doug Struck's recent piece illuminated the very real problem of climate change causing a global struggle for water ["Warming May Exacerbate Global Water Conflicts," news story, Aug. 20].

The article reinforced analysis from our recent report, "Unnatural Disaster," which details how our national parks are threatened by flooding, wildfires and the loss of wildlife.

The report also warns that climate change is melting snow packs and mountain glaciers that communities such as the Central Valley in California depend on for irrigation, drinking water and power generation.

The National Parks Conservation Association recommends that to slow or halt climate change, the federal government must cut pollution from coal-fired power plants, the leading industrial emitters of greenhouse gases. The Environmental Protection Agency also needs to implement more stringent ozone standards to address poor air quality and climate change in the Central Valley.

LAURA L. WHITEHOUSE

Central Valley Senior Program Manager

National Parks Conservation Association

Fresno, Calif.