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Kudos to governor, mayor on dedication to climate issues

6/16/2017, 1:32 p.m.

I am glad to see Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney doing their part to ensure that people are provided with clean energy, a clean environment and green jobs that will boost the economy.

Despite the Trump administration deciding to remove the United States from the Paris climate accord, Mayor Stoney recently joined the Climate Mayors coalition and We Are Still In, organizations to assert that he and other members will continue to support climate action to meet the Paris agreement.

With Richmond being the No. 2 asthma capital of the United States and named a challenging place to live with asthma, and the mayor joining these organizations and Gov. McAuliffe ordering a plan to reduce carbon emissions, we may begin to see a reduction in the amount of asthma-related hospital visits.

Richmond and other counties and cities in Virginia suffer from toxic air pollution, such as smog, which causes asthma attacks and worsens respiratory illnesses. Companies that contribute to this pollution include Honeywell International, Hercules, Philip Morris and the Chesterfield power station.

I would like to know what the mayor plans to do since joining these alliances. I think he would benefit from working with Gov. McAuliffe and his plan to cut carbon emissions in Virginia but focusing more so on the Richmond polluters.

I am extremely pleased with Virginia being a leader in the fight against climate change. We are in the beginning stages of the fight, but I believe our leaders will lead us to victory.

CRYSTAL A. YELVERTON

Richmond