An open letter to MPP Dave Smith

As our MPP for Peterborough I writing to you and to your party about Climate Change.

There have been two events during the last few days forcing us all to focus with more effort on this topic. I assume you will have heard about the report of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forecasting dire consequences for our climate by 2030 if we all do not take serious steps towards the reduction of CO2 emissions. The second event concerns the Nobel Prize Committee which awarded the Prize for Economics to two researchers, one of them Prof. Nordhaus whose life’s work showed how a carbon tax system is the best way to reduce carbon emission without being a burden to the economy or to individuals as long as such a tax remains revenue neutral.

Two highly qualified bodies are concerned about climate change.

The IPCC gave us the bare facts and spelled out the dangers climate change and the other recognized the life long work of Prof. Nordhaus whose research points to a realistic way to fight climate change. There couldn’t have been a better coordination of the two different bodies.

I assume that neither you nor the premier (nor I) are qualified to “know better” to dispute the findings of the IPCC nor the research by Prof. Nordhaus. It is high time that your government addresses the real dangers and get serious about climate change to save Ontarians from future harm and vast expenses.

I know a lot of people accuse politicians of just looking four years into the future, but there is a fantastic chance for you and your premier to show greatness, be visionary and address the challenges of the next 12 years with a positive outcome for Ontario, Canada and the World. 2030 is just around the corner and you will be asked where you were in 2018 when you had the power to spare future generations from catastrophic climatic climate changes. Arndt Kruger, Homewood Avenue