Some health issues not result of climate change

The (Nov. 12 guest column) by Dr. Paul Charlton promoting the Lujan Grisham/Newsom rush to get rid of carbon-powered vehicles to mitigate health risks must be refuted.

First, he obviously has a dog in this fight, since he leads an organization committed to radical climate change agendas. Second, he is an ER physician working in Gallup … he cannot be an expert in air quality conditions for the rest of the state.

His claim is that “fine particulate pollution, tailpipe emissions and events exacerbated by climate change” are responsible for increased cases involving cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, with even detrimental effects on pregnant women. Climate change advocates use a determined vocabulary to scare uninformed readers into compliance.

But where is his data? He cites no resources for his claim that adult asthma and coronary heart disease are increasing because of climate change. Considering that 90% of the New Mexican population lives in rural environments, those types of health issues are not likely “caused by inhaling harmful diesel and fine particulate pollutants.”

Even within the Navajo nation, where Dr. Charlton works, neither asthma nor heart disease is the primary concern. A 2019 report from the Navajo Epidemiology Center shows that diabetes is the most frequent cause of hospital visits — a health condition having nothing to do with climate. …

Another health issue concerning most physicians is the alarming increase in obesity within our state. A health issue most likely caused by diet and little exercise — not climate.

As with the 2020 lockdowns justified by health concerns, which put thousands out of work and closed many small businesses in New Mexico, we must be cautiously leery of anyone promoting radical changes to society that do not make economic sense and are not supported by the general citizenry. Climate change in its normality should never be used as a tool to further political agendas.

GARY HAYS Bernalillo