191 Needed Today, a Pollution Fee and Dividend

 

Why we must act now. Five points.

         It is time for a national carbon pollution fee coupled with a citizen dividend. For details, visit www.citizensclimatelobby.org

Here is why it is time to act:

1.   Climate Tipping points are thresholds, once reached, which cannot be reversed. There are at least a dozen physics and biological climate tipping points being monitored. At least three are on their edges ready to fall. Once we have toppled them, they will run their course of destruction with no help from us.

2.   Humanity can survive economic collapse, world-wide pandemics, wars, and any number of cataclysms but we cannot survive multiple ecosystem collapses. Nature sustains our air, water, and climate systems. If we ignore nature, it will not sustain us.

3.   While the task of avoiding ecosystem collapse is the responsibility of all nations, the United States has the largest economy. No solution is feasible without the USA. While we are not perfect, we are respected for leading when world leadership is needed. If we do not lead there are few, if any, scenarios ensuring our survival.

4.   Scientists tell us we must act aggressively now. They have identified the electrical grid as the most vital system the US must modernize. The grid must be powered by energy sources which do not add carbon dioxide and methane to the atmosphere. These include but are not limited to wind, solar, and nuclear energy.

5.   The elements of the new infrastructure bill which target removing fossil fuels will not pass this year because Senators Manchin and Sinema have issues. This forces the elected representatives who want to save their young constituents future to find a plan B. Plan B is a simple market correction. The fossil fuel companies have enjoyed billions of dollars in government support over many decades. Plan B simply puts a price on carbon pollution and simultaneously targets the proceeds to be returned to the citizen. This not only justly makes polluters pay, but it incentivizes the whole economy to move to clean power while protecting the poorest of us. Additionally, this creates the least bureaucracy. The medical benefits reaped by transitioning to clean energy sources alone makes the switch an economic win.

6.    Notice I do not mention the Republican Party. The US Republican Party is the last major political party on the planet refusing to acknowledge the threat of climate change or the role fossil fuels play in the demise of our ecosystems. The climate science community has been nearly 100% unified since 1989. (Ref the Noordwijk Climate Conference). With exception of John McCain Republican politicians have failed to respect the science and have either obstructed solutions or been silent. This does not mean you must be silent.

Whatever your political leanings, the non-partisan Citizens Climate Lobby has advocated for this solution, a carbon pollution fee coupled with a citizen dividend, for a decade. If you want to advocate a solution supported by scientists and economists, CCL will help you make your voice heard. Go to www.citizensclimatelobby.org and they will help send your message to D.C.

Please pass this on.

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