The story of Andy Long’s personal efforts to spur action on climate change is inspiring. (“BG native ready to be arrested to bring attention to climate crisis” 12/28). He is one of a small but rapidly growing group of activists who are cutting through the fog of political bickering and misinformation to send a clear message: we must act now to avoid severe climate impacts that will cause ever-increasing harm to both ecosystems and people.
Those reading Long’s story—most of whom will not be getting themselves arrested—will likely wonder “What do we need to do, and how can I help?” Over 3,500 US economists agree that the single most important step we need to take is to put a price on the carbon emissions that are causing our climate to overheat.
The good news is that we already have a bill in Congress with bipartisan sponsorship that does exactly what these economists all recommend. This bill, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (HR 763), places a fee on fossil fuels. The fee starts out low, then rises gradually each year. All the revenue from the fee except a few percent of administrative costs is returned to US households every month as a carbon dividend.
The government does not grow in size, and people are free to spend the monthly dividend in any way they choose. The fee creates incentives for businesses and people to save energy and switch to cleaner sources, and the dividend protects most consumers from price increases in the products they buy.
This type of policy is endorsed by prominent leaders from across the political spectrum and is supported by Republicans by a 3 to 1 margin according to a national survey. Even major oil corporations like Shell and ExxonMobil support a fee on carbon emissions.
Write or call Congressman Bob Latta and Senators Portman and Brown to ask them to support HR 763. You will have taken the most important action on climate change that you can possibly take. I can’t think of a better way to start the New Year!
Bob Clark-Phelps
Citizens’ Climate Lobby
