Time to compromise and solve climate change

The March 22 op-ed “Congress Must Go Big on Climate Change” accurately characterizes the political challenges to climate action. It describes as “sprawling” the 981-page CLEAN Future Act recently proposed by several House Democratic leaders. Indeed, that legislation would individually regulate all major sectors of the economy and even allow states to customize their climate plans. Notably, it does not include carbon pricing.

Ironically, some Republicans — as well as multiple oil companies, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and possibly even the American Petroleum Institute — are now advocating a market-based carbon pricing approach similar to what Democrats failed to pass a dozen years ago. Even more ironically, many Democrats now oppose carbon pricing.

It’s time for both sides to move beyond ideology and work to solve problems. A policy passed on strictly party lines is likely to be reversed, so bipartisanship is imperative. We do need to go big on climate change, but even more we must go smart.

A smart starting point is the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, which would impose an initially small but steadily rising carbon price. It is revenue-neutral, returning the proceeds equally to US households. A border adjustment prevents unfair foreign competition. It exempts farming and the military, and gives credit for carbon capture and sequestration.

I encourage our regional congressional Reps. Guy Reschenthaler, R- Peters, Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, and Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon, to work across the aisle. No party or ideology needs to win. Instead, our leaders must compromise and solve the biggest challenge of our time.