April 21, 2019
I occasionally write to my congressman, Devin
Nunes, about climate change. He always responds with a thoughtful,
respectful letter. While he dismisses the threat of climate change, he
acknowledges that rising carbon dioxide levels are of concern: “On the
most basic level, you and I can agree we must reduce carbon emissions —
irrespective of its impact on the climate. In doing so, we can
accomplish my goal of reducing our reliance on foreign oil and creating
jobs, and we can accomplish our goal of reducing carbon in the
atmosphere.”
I find this heartening, since it suggests that
there are actually some areas of agreement on both sides of the aisle.
Both sides want to cut air pollution, reduce carbon in the atmosphere,
and create jobs in our Valley.
Both college Republicans and Democrats get it:
last year they created Students for Carbon Dividends, a group promoting a
free-market solution to climate change.
There is now a bipartisan bill in Congress — HR
763 — which would put a fee on carbon dioxide and return all revenues to
American households. It would also grow our economy, create more jobs,
and help clean up our air. That’s a win-win for all of us.
Read more here: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article229476634.html#storylink=cpyhttps://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article229476634.html
Earth Day’s movement for healthy environment continues with call to action on climate
By Mark Reynolds and
Connie Young
As Americans observe Earth Day on Monday, let’s take a moment to
reflect on the power of the grassroots movement behind that first
celebration in 1970, which led to dramatic changes that improved the
quality of our lives through cleaner air and water.
Shocked by the massive oil spill that fouled the
beaches of Santa Barbara in 1969, Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson
organized the first Earth Day the following spring. The response was
overwhelming: Some 20 million Americans turned out to show their support
for cleaning up the environment.
Today, a similar movement is building
for Congress to enact measures to preserve a livable climate for future
generations. Across the country, volunteers with Citizens’ Climate Lobby
have conducted more than 1,000 outreach events in their local
communities, aiming for a goal of 2,000 outreach events this spring.
Some of those have happened in the Central Valley. Not only that, but
they’ve held more than 250 meetings with their members of Congress since
January, asking them to support a bipartisan climate solution known as
the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R. 763).
Thousands of economists across the political spectrum have said the
most effective step we can take to bring down the emissions causing
climate change is to put a robust price on carbon. If revenue is
returned to households, they say, our economy will actually benefit. The
Energy Innovation Act does just that. It is: ▪ Effective: It will reduce U.S. emissions at least 40 percent in the first 12 years and targets 90 percent reductions by 2050.
▪ Good
for people: It will improve health and save lives by reducing pollution
that Americans breathe. Additionally, the carbon dividend puts money
directly into people’s pockets every month to spend as they see fit. ▪ Good for the economy: It will create 2.1 million new jobs, thanks to economic growth in local communities. ▪ Bipartisan:
Republicans and Democrats are both on board as co-sponsors. Any bill
that hopes to gain passage in Congress must have bipartisan support. ▪ Revenue
neutral: The fees collected on carbon emissions will be allocated to
all Americans. The government keeps none of the money, so the size of
the government will not grow.
This legislation is garnering support from institutions and groups that have the ear of elected officials.
From the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:
“This bipartisan bill is a hopeful sign that more and more, climate
change is beginning to be seen as a crucial moral issue; one that
concerns all people ... At a time when the dangerous effects of climate
change are becoming increasingly apparent, the need for legislative
solutions like this is more urgent than ever.”
From Trout Unlimited: “Just as we learned in the
1990s that we had to move from the stream to the watershed scale to
recover trout and salmon, we must reduce carbon emissions to slow
climate change. For this reason, Trout Unlimited is supporting passage
of common sense legislation such as the Energy Innovation and Carbon
Dividend Act. The time for Band-Aids is past.”
Many members of Congress realize the “time for
Band-Aids is past,” and 30 of them have taken action by signing onto the
Energy Innovation Act.
Given the impact of climate change we’re seeing
here with wildfires and air quality, we hope that Congress members
Costa, Cox, Nunes, McClintock and McCarthy will co-sponsor H.R. 763. We
also hope that Sens. Feinstein and Harris will support similar
legislation in the Senate.
Following the outpouring of support for the first
Earth Day, Democrats and Republicans in Congress came together to enact
policies that protected the environment and made our lives better.
Likewise, Democrats and Republicans must now come together to enact
effective policies to prevent our climate from unraveling beyond the
point of no return. The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act offers
the opportunity for that much-needed bipartisan collaboration.
Mark Reynolds is
executive director of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Connie Young is the group
leader for the Fresno chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
Read more here: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/op-ed/article229440324.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/op-ed/article229440324.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/op-ed/article229440324.html#storylink=cpy
Though true that climate change is a “new” issue
for adults, young people have heard about it their whole lives. And it’s
continually becoming more and more clear that it will be the younger
generations to finally get action; we don’t have time to wait around for
the powers that be to decide it’s worth doing something. Young people
around the world are demonstrating and demanding action on climate
change, as they should be!
As a student determined to get the action that we
need on climate change, I volunteer with the Fresno chapter of Citizens
Climate Lobby (CCL). This organization is working hard for a climate
solution, and is on its way to one with the bipartisan Energy Innovation
and Carbon Dividend Act being introduced to Congress. Being a part of
this organization has truly given me hope for the future of our planet.
So, to young people: You can be a part
of the solution! CCL and the students involved are paving the way for a
livable world. Young people are the future, and the future depends on
our nation reaching a climate solution.
Samantha Perez, Fresno
Read more here: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article228459884.html#storylink=cpy
In the Fresno Bee (March 13) a letter from Rod
Jenson pointed out his confusion about some of the statements made about
climate change; specifically, more droughts or more flooding? The
answer is that we will see both, and a lot more catastrophic events
caused by our production of atmospheric carbon. There will not only be
drought, but fires that will make 2018 seem like a friendly marshmallow
roast. There will be flooding the likes of which we have never seen. Sea
levels will rise, crop production will fall and millions will starve.
It is unfortunate that what we are now seeing as
the many aspects of global climate disruption originally were called
“global warming.” That made it seem pretty benign, as if we could cope
by no longer wearing long-sleeved shirts. Then we would get a freak
snowstorm in June somewhere and folks would run about saying “this can’t
be global warming, it is all a hoax!”
There will never again be a “new normal.” The
Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and natural environment are spinning out of
control, and we seem oblivious. There might be some hope if our
politicians embraced things like the Paris Climate Accord and the Green
New Deal, but I doubt that they will. Even if they do, and we somehow
immediately eliminate all fossil fuel production and use, worldwide, we
will see a 2-3 degree (C) increase in the global temperature. Even that
will be devastating, but maybe survivable.
Sometimes I am glad that I am 79 years old, but I cry for our children and grandchildren.
I appreciate the confusion Rod
Jenson expressed in his letter, (Flood or Drought? Climate Confusion,
March 13) wondering if climate change means we need to be prepared for
floods or for droughts. Unfortunately, we need to prepare for both, due
to “weather whiplash.”
Carbon dioxide and other gases
produced by burning oil and coal interfere with the radiant cooling of
the Earth. This greenhouse effect causes excess heat energy to build up
in the atmosphere and oceans. With more energy buildup, the normal
variations of weather will get supercharged. UCLA scientists predict
that the usual amount of rain will fall, but in a shorter period,
leading to severe flooding events. In California, this will be followed
by longer warm and dry seasons, creating conditions for bigger
wildfires.
It’s going to be expensive and
difficult to shore up our infrastructure, support our first responders,
cope with air pollution and adjust our land management policies. Experts
say we can still prevent some of the worst effects of climate change if
we transition to cleaner forms of energy. The Energy Innovation and
Climate Dividend Act has been proposed in the House. You can read how it
will help at EnergyInnovationsAct.org and tell your member of Congress.
Read more here: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article228007949.html#storylink=cpyhttps://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article228007949.html
Though true that climate change
is a “new” issue for adults, young people have heard about it their
whole lives. And it’s continually becoming more and more clear that it
will be the younger generations to finally get action; we don’t have
time to wait around for the powers that be to decide it’s worth doing
something. Young people around the world are demonstrating and demanding
action on climate change, as they should be!
As a student determined to get
the action that we need on climate change, I volunteer with the Fresno
chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL). This organization is working
hard for a climate solution, and is on its way to one with the
bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act being introduced to
Congress. Being a part of this organization has truly given me hope for
the future of our planet.
So, to young people: You
can be a part of the solution! CCL and the students involved are paving
the way for a livable world. Young people are the future, and the
future depends on our nation reaching a climate solution.
March 4, 2019 Two Florida congressmen, a
Republican and a Democrat, recently introduced the Energy Innovation and
Carbon Dividend Act. It is projected to reduce carbon emissions by 40
percent in 12 years.
This bipartisan bill can be part
of either a conservative, market-based economic plan, or a progressive
reshaping of our economy promoted in the Green New Deal.
EICDA adds a price to carbon
fuels to encourage American families and businesses to reduce their
carbon footprint, but does not dictate how. Businesses can invest in
conservation and green energy, or pay the higher price for carbon fuels.
Farmers get a rebate for their equipment fuel. Government does not keep
the money; carbon dividends go to each household. Conservatives like
these features.
The Green New Deal combines green
businesses and jobs with guaranteed full employment, universal health
insurance, financial reform and other major changes. These ambitious
goals cannot pass until at least the 2020 elections, when progressives
hope to use them to win Congress and the White House.
EICDA would be a major step
towards the climate protection goals of the Green New Deal. But it could
pass in the current session, because it also fits into conservative
climate programs. Write your representative.
