Four south metro residents recently traveled to Washington, DC, with a specific mission of concern for our planet - to help create the political will for a stable climate. Deborah Nelson, Veda Kanitz and Cindy Linafelter, all of Lakeville, and Paul Hoffinger of Eagan joined a group of almost 400 from the U.S. and Canada June 22 at the 2013 international conference of Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL).
Scientific consensus
According to the website Skeptical Science, 97% of climate experts agree humans are causing global warming (http://www.skepticalscience.com/global-warming-scientific-consensus.htm) .
Climate impact
We know our Midwest climate is changing. The National Climate Assessment predicts with a high degree of confidence that if we continue our current addiction to fossil fuels, by 2050 Midwest temperatures will be 5 to 8 degrees Fahrenheit warmer. Our current pattern of 40% of the precipitation falling within 10 various heavy-precipitation days in the year will continue and worsen. Agriculture will be negatively affected with more runoff, more excessive heat days and extreme weather events. Our precious lakes and streams will continue to warm and bloom with excessive algae; invasive species and pathogens will worsen. Health costs from polluted air will only grow worse. According to the Clean Air Task Force, coal plants alone cause 13,000 deaths each year and fossil fuel use costs us $120 billion a year mostly in health related damages (2009 National Academy of Sciences study.)
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Market-based solution
Because of this knowledge, on June 25, the same day President Obama presented his plan to combat climate change, CCL members began meetings with over 400 Senators and Representatives in Congress to make the case for another tool to address climate change, a steadily rising fee on carbon that returns all revenue to households. This revenue-neutral fee on carbon emissions has received praise from conservative economists including Reagan economic adviser, Art Laffer, Romney economist Greg Mankiw and former Secretary of State George Shultz, as well as from major oil companies. Support for this fee-and-dividend system is building because it is predictable, efficient, and easy to administer. It doesn’t grow government nor rely on government to pick winners and losers. It’s a free market-based solution that begins to reflect the true costs of using fossil fuels.
Revenue neutral
High emission, dirtier sources such as coal would require the largest fee. This would cause the market to favor more sustainable energy choices and help renewable sources compete. CCL favors a truly revenue neutral fee-and-dividend system where 100 % of the proceeds would be returned to households. Border adjustment tariffs on imports from nations that lack carbon equivalent pricing would protect American businesses and encourage other nations to adopt carbon pricing.
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Meeting Saturday, July 13
The South Metro-CD2 Citizens Climate lobby group meets monthly to become more educated on climate change issues and continues the work to build the political will for a stable climate. The next meeting will be Sat., July 13 from 10 -12 at Lebanon Hills Park. For more information, please visit http://citizensclimatelobby-mn.org/ or you can find us on Meet Up at http://www.meetup.com/Citizens-Climate-Lobby-MN-2nd-Congressional-District/
Veda Kanitz, science teacher at Rosemount High, sends this report.
