Carbon program is a winner

In June, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said heat-trapping carbon dioxide levels peaked again this year. Carbon dioxide contributes to climate change, so this is disturbing news. Whether or not you agree that human activities contribute to climate change, most people agree that climate change is real. There is evidence that it contributes to the severity and devastating effects worldwide of droughts, fires, storms, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. The costs of dealing with these disasters is huge and not likely to decrease.

What if we could reduce the amount of carbon dioxide entering our atmosphere with a simple plan that charges a fee per pound of carbon produced or emitted at the source, and then returns the money collected to every tax-paying American household? This program is called carbon fee and dividend, and it has been proposed by the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a worldwide group seeking nonpartisan solutions to addressing climate change.

There are no new regulations, and the environment and the economy would both benefit. Taxpayers would benefit because any increasing costs carbon producers might pass on to consumers are alleviated by the return of the net fees collected.

Three major oil companies have endorsed and are lobbying for a carbon fee and dividend framework proposed by two wellknown Republicans. Growing congressional support could lead to the implementation of this win-win solution.

Rita Ransom, Las Vegas