Time to take action

I would like to thank Margi Tucker from Bella Vista on her very passionate and forceful letter printed in the Northwest edition of the Democrat-Gazette last week. It pointed out many of the detrimental effects that global warming is causing in Arkansas and around the world. The inattention of our leaders to the fact that human activity is by far the greatest contributor to its progression is unconscionable. She mentioned that 2017 was the warmest year to date without an El Niño, and it is predicted that 2018 will be close behind at fourth.

Not mentioned is a solution that was proposed by Citizens Climate Lobby, with the help of the Regional Economic Models Inc.: the Carbon Fee and Dividend solution whereby a steadily rising fee is placed on fossil fuels and the money is returned to American households on an equal and monthly basis. Two-thirds of households will either break even or make a profit. The carbon fee will send a clear message to producers, consumers, innovators, and investors: Clean energy choices are the way to go.

Recently, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication updated its Climate Opinion Maps with data that included responses to 14 new questions. One of those questions asked respondents if they “support taxing fossil fuel companies while equally reducing other taxes.” Nationwide, 68 percent said they would support this type of revenue-neutral carbon tax, with 29 percent opposed. Google “Yale climate opinion maps” for more details. CHARLES SISCO Fayetteville