Climate change, also known as global warming, continues to be a contentious issue, particularly when the issue is the cost of cleanup and prevention of further damage to the world’s environment.

According to a report by Sir Nicholas Stern, a senior British economist, investing in the development of cleaner energy technologies and other remedies could save $2.5 trillion a year globally.

The United States produces the greatest share of greenhouse gases which translates to the greatest harm to the environment. Our leaders in Washing-ton argue that as leading producers, it is too expensive for the United States to take mitigating action.

Meanwhile, more and more scientific studies document the damage caused by climate change. Scientists at New Jer-sey’s Princeton University’s Forrestal campus have been studying the world’s weather for over 36 years and have identified a connection between global warming and an increased number and intensity of hurricanes.

Two of these scientists felt that Washington had suppressed their findings. Inves-tigations are under way by the Department of Commerce and NASA and by independent auditors at the request of 14 U.S. senators.

In its ongoing efforts to inform, educate and involve citizens in important issues of the day, the League of Women Voters of Ocean County is hosting a “Community Dialogue” on global warming at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 10. at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library.

For more information on this issue or the League of Women Voters call (732) 914-0154 or e-mail wvoc-pres@comcast.net.

Gail Marsh Saxer

President

League of Women Voters

of Ocean County

Toms River