Mailbag:

Every letter and every argument by people who believe that man-made climate change is either a hoax or too small to worry about fails to include an important ingredient: prudence.

Ultimately, it may turn out that they were right about man-made climate change having been a negligible problem. But what if they are wrong? The risk of being wrong is high indeed, because it could mean death for all humans.

Tom Williams may not be personally affected by climate change, but his heirs might be (“Earth is repeating cooling cycle,” Dec. 29) .

Suppose he owns property in Newport Beach near sea level that he intends to bequeath to his children, grandchildren, etc.

If the ocean level rises — as even he admits will happen sometime — within their lifetime, their inheritance will literally be under water.

Tuesday’s Los Angeles Times reported that “Pacific storms combined with high-tide conditions Monday triggered waves large enough to breach a 10-foot-high man-made sand berm built to protect oceanfront properties in Seal Beach....” While this is not unusual for this time of year, it does give a taste of what can happen if the ocean rises.

Isn’t it reasonable and prudent to invest now in further research to better understand the problem (or lack of problem)? Must we wait until Mackerel Flats flounders under water and Goat Hill enjoys newly made oceanfront property?

Tom Egan

Costa Mesa