Don Gaede - 7-12-2020 - Account for Climate Change

ACCOUNT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

July 12, 2020

The Valley Air District board recently gave its annual report, and outlined a number of commendable actions it has been taking to improve air quality. But I didn’t see a single word about climate change and its effect on our air. 

Many medical groups, including the Fresno-Madera Medical Society, consider climate change to be a significant public health threat. Extreme weather can elevate ozone concentrations, impair the health of outdoor workers, exacerbate forest fires, and fill our air with dangerous smoke. Air pollution has even been linked to higher death rates from COVID-19 infections, according to a recent Harvard study. 

Fighting climate change addresses four problems at the same time: air pollution, rising CO2 levels, our health, and our economy. California’s cap-and-trade program helps our Valley replace highly polluting trucks, cars, tractors, and pumps. The money is estimated to produce $5 in health-care savings for every $1 spent. 

And it’s not just humans that are affected. Climate change also impacts the health of our Valley’s animals and crops, on which our economy depends. 

The Valley Air board needs to start acknowledging the elephant in the room. The directors ignore climate change at our peril. 

Don Gaede, Fresno

https://eedition.fresnobee.com/ccidist-replica-reader/?epub=https://eedition.fresnobee.com/ccidist-ws/mcclatchy/mcclatchy_frs_newsbroad/issues/31521/&token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJwdWJzIjp7ImZyZXNub19mcnNfbmV3c2Jyb2FkIjpbIkFMTEZSUy01MDMyIiwiQUxMRlJTLTUwMzIiLCJBTExGUlMtNTAzMiIsIkFMTEZSUy01MDMyIiwiZWVkaXRpb24iXX0sImlzcyI6Ik1jQ2xhdGNoeSIsInN1YiI6IjUwMDI3NTc4NiIsInNlc3Npb24iOjE1OTcxNTQ0NTAsImlhdCI6MTU5NDU2MjQ1MCwiZXhwIjoxNTk0NTYzMzUwfQ.MtiLwldsQq2WjbtI9J5iwqMtSux5b0wMeygpeLkrMAw#/articles/33

Mike Mayfield - 6-28-2020 - Pandemic has cleaned the air

Pandemic has cleaned the air

June 28, 2020

It’s unfortunate that a dramatic reduction in air pollution was caused by a pandemic and not by choice alone. However, these past few months have demonstrated how much healthier our community can be if we had less vehicles on the road. Put simply, smog and fumes emitted from the tailpipes of our vehicles have a profound impact on air quality and public health.

As Fresno emerges from the grips of this pandemic, there lies an important opportunity to change collective behaviors and rebuild our local economy in a more sustainable way. With this in mind, electrification of the transportation sector is key to a clean air future.

By creating new upgrades to the existing energy grid, Fresno can effectively support the adoption of new EVs and clean air vehicles.There is no doubt that this would allow citizens to breathe much easier. Microgrids are essential electricity during a grid outage and can ensure our lights are kept on. Communities like ours need to start looking at ways we can implement these renewable energy systems as well as encourage growth of electric vehicles to keep our air quality healthy and our cities safe.

Mike Mayfield, Fresno

 https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article243821747.html?fbclid=IwAR0zBSC1KvTAx12IwR5P9ebtwljftHgEOornyd3e96WarBv8Gxd2GknHYZM

Read more here: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article243821747.html?fbclid=IwAR0zBSC1KvTAx12IwR5P9ebtwljftHgEOornyd3e96WarBv8Gxd2GknHYZM#storylink=cpy

Robert Pethoud - 6-21-2020- Key lessons from the pandemic

June 21, 2020
Key lessons from the pandemic

What the coronavirus pandemic teaches us:
Ignoring, denying, and/or overruling science is disastrous.
In a crisis, there is no substitute for collective action directed and mandated by an effective national government.
There is no solution which does not involve every one of us, from elected officials to ordinary citizens.
These lessons apply equally to mankind’s responses to pandemics, to climate change, and to environmental degradation. Any new normal we create must incorporate the three insights if there is to be a continued human presence on Earth.

Robert Pethoud, Fresno

https://eedition.fresnobee.com/ccidist-replica-reader/?epub=https://eedition.fresnobee.com/ccidist-ws/mcclatchy/mcclatchy_frs_newsbroad/issues/29561/&token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJNY0NsYXRjaHkiLCJzdWIiOiI1MDAyNzU3ODYiLCJwdWJzIjp7ImZyZXNub19mcnNfbmV3c2Jyb2FkIjpbIkFMTEZSUy01MDMyIiwiZWVkaXRpb24iXX0sInNlc3Npb24iOjE1OTUzMzQ3NDYsImlhdCI6MTU5Mjc0Mjc0NiwiZXhwIjoxNTkyNzQzNjQ2fQ.Zd8ah-Mbh9qTtl2efPO4adGDT5GbJPVba1d_4D9bPXs#/articles/31

Devin Carroll - 5-29-2020 - U.S. must have carbon-fee system

U.S. must have carbon-fee system

May 29, 2020

Citizens’ Climate Lobby of Fresno thanks Rep. Jim Costa for co-sponsoring H.R. 4051, the Climate Action Rebate Act.
CARA is similar to our preferred legislation, H.R. 763, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.
Both acts charge gradually increasing fees to producers of oil, coal and natural gas based on the carbon dioxide released when these fuels burn.

EICDA returns all of the money to the people as dividends. CARA returns 70% as dividends to low- and middle-income residents. Another 20% goes to infrastructure, 5% to investments in clean energy and energy innovation, and 5% to transition assistance.
Economists agree that carbon fees are the most effective and market-friendly method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Congress should pass this kind of legislation.

Devin Carroll, Fresno

 https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article243057891.html

Read more here: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article243057891.html#storylink=cpy

Matt Armstrong - 5-20-2020 - Music and climate change impact

Music and climate change impact
May 20, 2020

Fender, the guitar manufacturer behind the iconic instruments played by Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Brad Paisley, and so many others, is the latest company to announce that it is having to adapt to climate change. Fender recently announced that it will phase out the use of ash wood in the bodies of their guitars. Ash is believed by many players to be a key part of a Fender guitar's bright and distinctive sound.
I am not assuming that climate change led to this decision — Fender named the cause. Warmer weather resulting in tree-damaging insect outbreaks and increasingly common flooding has damaged the available sources of ash. What this means for music lovers is that, whether you like the country twang of a Telecaster, surf guitar solos on a Jazzmaster, blues wailing on a stratocaster, or hard rock riffs belted out on a partscaster, your music is hurt by climate change.
Companies like Fender are taking this seriously, but not Washington, D.C. Call your congressional representative to demand action. If you aren't going to fight for the future of your family or the planet, then fight for the future of rock and roll.

Matt Armstrong, Fresno

https://tinyurl.com/ycmd69ao

Dave Pickford - 5-10-2020 - Work together, not against each other

Work together, not against each other

5-10-2020

After more than a month’s time that we have spent socially restricted, maybe it is time to look at this free time we have and understand that this, like the virus, will not last forever either. We have a limited lifespan, so maybe this coronavirus has given us a chance to consider how we are spending our time now.

If you have spent the time getting to know your family better, read a few more books, exercised more consistently, ate better by cooking more of your meals, learned to relax, talked more to relatives that are not close by, contributed to critical charities, then you have not wasted the time.

What world leaders need to do now, in addition to figuring out strategies for economic recovery, is take a few of those experts and have them work together with other learned individuals and start revving up strategies for the effects of climate change. The same energy individuals are putting into creating a vaccine and appropriate testing, producing more protective gear and masks, building more ventilators, that sense of urgency could be summoned with another group of international experts to work on climate solutions.

Working together rather than competing against each other seems to be the message nature is sending us. Hurry up, there is not any time to waste.

Dave Pickford, Clovis

https://eedition.fresnobee.com/ccidist-replica-reader/?epub=https://eedition.fresnobee.com/ccidist-ws/mcclatchy/mcclatchy_frs_newsbroad/issues/25666/&token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJNY0NsYXRjaHkiLCJzdWIiOiI1MDAyNzU3ODYiLCJwdWJzIjp7ImZyZXNub19mcnNfbmV3c2Jyb2FkIjpbIkFMTEZSUy01MDMyIiwiZWVkaXRpb24iXX0sInNlc3Npb24iOjE1OTE3MDQ0MDgsImlhdCI6MTU4OTExMjQwOCwiZXhwIjoxNTg5MTEzMzA4fQ.-VNCH56Nm_aB51h_SaQ7SwTkYCG9JjcF6qCr5pBKvX8#/articles/35

Devin Carroll - 2-14-2020 - Climate bills may bridge divide

Climate bills may bridge divide

No climate legislation will help unless it passes Congress. It must be bipartisan to pass a divided government and continue working as parties trade power in future elections.
Democrats have some good ideas in the Green New Deal, but they will not pass unless liberal Democrats sweep the 2020 elections.

Republicans have some good ideas about tax breaks for business innovations. They could be included in a legislative package, but will not be viewed as enough by themselves.

Currently Congress is considering five bills that place a fee on production of coal, petroleum and natural gas. Authors and co-sponsors come from both parties. Some use the money to reduce payroll taxes, or pay for climate-related infrastructure, or help displaced workers such as coal miners. But the most popular idea is to give dividends to the people. This has broad backing from both conservative and liberal economists.

HR 763 is the bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. With 75 co-sponsors, this legislation has the most support in Congress.

Both parties want to reduce carbon emissions. This bridge issue is an opportunity to show they can work together to solve problems. This is what Americans want.

Devin Carroll, Fresno
Feb. 14,2020

 https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article240249066.html

Read more here: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article240249066.html#storylink=cpy