Could a price on carbon reduce pollution?

In her recent column (July 29, “Apocalypse Right Now”), Maureen Dowd likens the multitude of climate changefueled events around the world to living through a disaster movie. This sentiment certainly matches how I, and many others I know, feel. The daily news of catastrophic floods, wildfires burning millions of acres of land and devastatingly freakish weather events that are now becoming commonplace can be overwhelming and terrifying.

In most apocalyptic disaster movies, the script ends with people and science coming together for the good of all to save humanity. In our reallife disaster movie, we already have the “scripts” to mitigate the effects of climate change. But we need the political will to put these scripts into action.

To achieve a more positive ending, bold action needs to be taken now. A solution that has received support from scientists and economists alike is the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.

A strong economywide price on carbon could reduce America’s carbon pollution by 50% by 2030, setting the course to reach net zero by 2050.

The legislation will place an increasing fee on fossil fuel emissions at the source with the proceeds being returned to all Americans in the form of a monthly dividend. Per Citizens’ Climate Lobby, “studies show that the monthly carbon cash- back payments are enough to essentially cover increased costs of 85% of American households, including 95% of the least wealthy 60% of Americans.”

As individuals, we can be part of creating a happier ending to the current climate crises.

The time is now to contact your members of Congress, including Rep. Mike Doyle and Sen. Bob Casey, and urge them to support including a carbon fee in upcoming climate legislation.

For more information, please go to citizensclimatelobby.org and energyinnovationact.org. CYNTHIA KIRSCH

Edgewood The writer is a co-leader for Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Pittsburgh