Dear Editor,

The D.O.’s new environment columnist says it’s time to address climate change and move “toward a climate of compassion,” which is a great lead in to the best current solution for climate change: a revenue neutral carbon tax, of which local efforts are in motion.

The Syracuse chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) has worked with Rep. John Katko (R-Syracuse), who has signed onto a Republican Climate Solutions resolution, which states that Congress needs to act to counter climate change. In this day of hyper-partisanship, this is no small feat. We need to thank Katko and move him to sponsor carbon fee and dividend legislation.

A revenue neutral carbon fee, supported by CCL and its 86,000 members, would place a low but steadily rising fee on greenhouse gases. The fee would reduce harmful emission by 50 percent over 20 years, grow the GDP by $1.375 billion and create 2.8 million jobs over 20 years, according to a Regional Economic Models, Inc. report. A monthly dividend check returns all net revenue to families to ensure any increased costs in energy are covered, particularly for poor and working class families. It would also allow for more choices in energy consumption, as investment in clean technologies takes off. Why pay the rising prices for dirty fuel or oil when you could heat with geothermal, or install solar power for electricity?

CCL organizes by congressional district, so you can work on a solution for climate change. We travel to Washington, D.C. to let Congress know that we need climate change action now. It’s good for our planet, our economy and our health.

So get involved and let Katko know that we support him in being the climate change leader we need now by sponsoring carbon fee and dividend legislation.

Sincerely,

Sunny Aslam

Jamesville, NY

Published on January 21, 2018 at 7:55 pm