A carbon tax can work

In the spirit of holiday giving, I’m asking those on the left and the right to each give a little, and work to pass serious legislation to address climate change. It is rare to have even a few days when there isn’t extreme weather occurring somewhere. Australia, Brazil and California have had record fires, and our extreme weather events have resulted in ruined crops, flooded cities and dramatic increases in the costs of weather damage to property.

H.R. 763, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, was written by Republicans and Democrats, and would directly reduce fossil fuel use by gradually raising a fee on carbon fuels. All revenue is returned to citizens as a dividend, resulting in a socially just approach to climate change. Any small economic impact is offset by the health benefits of dramatically cleaner air, and by the double stimulus of Americans spending their dividend and by businesses investing in cleaner technology. Energy prices rise, but stay within ranges we have experienced before for many years.

Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs recently analyzed the act and showed that the EICDA works. Emission reductions of 36% to 38% by 2030 are projected, and sulfur dioxide and mercury emissions from the power sector decline by an impressive 95%.

Please write your representative and tell him or her that it is time to pass H.R. 763. — Tom Rausch, Glen Ellyn