It’s time to make a change

Spring is around the corner and with it the start of another forest fire season. Climate change has played a major role through rising temperatures, droughts, shorter winters and uncleared beetle kill. It is clear to over 97% of climate scientists that this period of rising temperatures is due to elevated CO2 and other green house gasses in our atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels.

There is no doubt that fossil fuels have been a blessing in many ways. But, until now, we have not grasped the serious cost of the wonders that we have been enjoying. The “bill” is now coming due. Our only recourse is to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels and develop a sustainable energy future. This will not be easy or happen overnight.

Legislation will be introduced in this 117th Congress which will put us on a path to a new sustainable energy future. It puts a price on carbon that is backed by literally hundreds of economists, climate scientists, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and former secretaries of the Treasury as well as many of the members of the petroleum industr y. It will reduce the production and release of C02 from 80% of the major sources by 2050 and put us on a path to the goal of keeping rising global temperatures below 2 degrees C. The dividend created by the cost of carbon will be returned to the American people.

Our major training partners around the world are already putting into place a similar system and other countries will have to embrace this concept or be trade disadvantaged.

The only way to move our members of Congress to act is to let them know what we want. Call or write to your federal elected officials and ask them to support legislation that includes a carbon fee and dividend. Our house is on fire and it’s time for action.

James C. Danforth Loveland