Letter writer Varsha Nair calls on Americans to take action on climate change (Herald, Jan. 8). Economists on the right and the left, major oil and gas companies, Fortune 500 companies, and more are all calling for a national carbon tax as one the most transparent and efficient ways to address the climate crisis. What might this look like? If we were to place a gradually increasing fee on the carbon content of fossil fuels at the point of extraction (oil well, coal mine, port of entry), give all the funds collected back to U.S. households in the form of monthly dividend checks, and adjust the costs of fossil-fuel-related goods that are imported or exported so U.S. businesses would not be penalized by such a scheme, we would reduce global warming and pollution-related deaths, as well as spur investment and jobs in clean energy.
Liberals should like a revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend because the dividend will protect the poor and middle class from increasing fossil-fuel costs. Conservatives should like the proposal because it does not depend on government regulation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Libertarians should endorse a revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend because it is compatible with their understanding of a core function of government: to protect the life, liberty and property of individuals.
The storms across the country this winter show dramatically how global warming is posing an ever-increasing threat to these deeply held values. We cannot afford to take the small chance that climate scientists are wrong on global warming because the projected environmental and economic consequences of climate change are severe. Our U.S. senators and representatives should consider this widely endorsed policy proposal and take up Nair’s pledge to do something about climate disruption in 2016.
Kathleen Wells
Denver
