Carbon Tax Needs to be Part of Climate Measures by Alyson Schmeisser
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Earth Day 2021 by Loren Johnson
Earth Day 2021 finds a country overwhelmed by interconnecting crises. A worldwide pandemic, an economic disaster, racial discord, and overarching all of this is a climate crisis that exacerbates all of the above. We are experiencing a crisis within a crisis. We have just learned that CO2 levels in the atmosphere are the highest they’ve been in over 3 million years, that they are rising 100 times faster than normal, and that our global average temperature is rising 10 times faster than in the last 65 million years. Earth Day 2021 reminds us that the climate is not Earth Day 2021 Earth Day 2021 finds a country overwhelmed by interconnecting crises. A worldwide pandemic, an economic disaster, racial discord, and overarching all of this is a climate crisis that exacerbates all of the above. We are experiencing a crisis within a crisis. We have just learned that CO2 levels in the atmosphere are the highest they’ve...
The Better Way to Price Carbon by Loren Johnson
The global climate crisis is serious and calls for immediate action. One solution to the climate emergency is to price carbon to more accurately reflect its true cost. Economists agree that levying a tax or fee on fossil fuel emissions is the best way to address the climate crisis. Several proposals before Congress would do this, but one stands out for its simplicity and fairness. It is market-based and more effective than regulations. The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act ( EICDA ) will soon be reintroduced in this session of Congress. It has three parts: 1) Fee, 2) The dividend, and 3) Border Adjustment. 1) Fee. Coal, oil and natural gas producers would pay a fee upfront based on how much global warming pollution their fuels generate when burned. The fee would begin at $15 per ton – enough to raise the price of gas 16.5 cents per gallon – and increase annually by $10 per ton until emissi...
Fossil fuels are only affordable because they free-ride on climate change victims
People, including Monday's columnist Harsanyi, need to realize “affordable fossil fuels” are only “affordable” because they free-ride on the shoulders of climate change victims . When the costs of climate change are included, for example costs of relocating residents of south Florida and Louisiana because of sea-level rise, these fuels are not “affordable.” With a carbon tax, economics’ magic hand will quietly end petroleum use, as old equipment wears out. Serious economists, including conservative economists, endorse this approach – so it is wrong to try to pretend that climate action is a culture war issue. America is blessed and innovative country. That why it was natural for America to lead at last week’s climate conference. Gregory Turco Janesville Gregory Turco/4006 Hearthstone Dr/Janesville WI/608 302 7822/gregory.turco@icloud.com
Encourage Congress to Address Climate Change Legislation
Below Terry's letter is a recent Op-Ed by Phil Smith and Kim Suhr that also makes the case that carbon pricing is necessary despite Biden's important first steps to address our changing climate. Phil and Kim's piece spells out the basics of The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act--something I thought some might find useful. Phil and Kim are both active members of the Waukesha Chapter of CCL; Phil works on business outreach in the state. Katy 608 774 5289 ( by Terry Hansen) President Joe Biden’s proposal to upgrade our nation’s infrastructure, the American Jobs Plan, has a strong climate focus. The proposal aims to make our infrastructure more resilient to climate impacts, and it includes initiatives to reduce emissions in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change. The president’s plan would provide not only funding for roads, bridges and transit systems, but also for sustainable housing and buildings, electric vehicles, and research and deve...