Further solutions on climate

To U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin and Rep. Dave Loebsack:

April is Earth Month. Someone asked me when Earth Day - April 22 - became Earth Month, and I couldn't answer that. But I can say that every day should be Earth Day.

When I attended the first one in New York City back in 1970, I had not a glimmer of the magnitude of the issues that would be facing humanity in 2014. I certainly never had heard about global warming or climate change. Yet in the past few years, I have been on a fast-track learning about the most severe problem to face Earth - at least since human beings have been on it.

The most recent and most significant scientific report was published earlier this month when the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its second of three reports. Rising oceans threaten coastal communities, water supplies are increasingly stressed, oceans are becoming more acidic and species extinction is being hastened. The world's food supply is at considerable risk.

'Nobody on this planet is going to be untouched by the impacts of climate change,” Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the intergovernmental panel proclaimed at a news conference.

While the poorest nations of the world and cities on the coasts will experience the greatest impact sooner, we in Iowa already are affected and will continue to be so as crops are stressed because of drought and flooding. And where will all those coastal refugees be resettled? Many communities have been working on adaptation, but it may not be enough. Can we adapt to living without water or food?

Reduction of greenhouse gases needs to be part of the solution and very soon.

We elected you to represent our interests as a state and as a nation. We need you to put aside partisan differences and come together to serve as leaders on this issue. We know that you have worked in a bipartisan effort on the production tax credit for wind energy and on biodiesel fuels. We commend Loebsack for joining with Rep. Steve King to lead a bipartisan group of representatives in calling on the speaker of the House to extend the Production Tax Credit and the Investment Tax Credit. And Grassley, we are proud of you for working with Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado to get 26 senators to sign a letter to the chair of the Senate Finance Committee on this same issue.

Surely you don't need to wait for us to tell you we get the big picture and it is alarming? If so, then we need to write and call you. But really, can't you lead and help us to make the changes we need to make here in Iowa and elsewhere?

There are many things that can be done. One of the most effective may be to pass a revenue-neutral carbon tax, which would let the market work out reductions in fossil fuel use. This seems to be a solution that appeals to Republicans and Democrats.

I have decided to wear an orange ribbon on my arm to call attention to the danger posed by climate change. We have been taught to regard the color orange as a sign of danger. When asked why I am wearing the ribbon, I tell people and ask them to be in touch with you. Many feel that is a useless gesture. And that is very sad.

In the meantime, I am passing out orange ribbons and tying them on everyone who will wear one. I am sending one to each of you. Will you wear it?

Thank you.

l The Rev. Barbara Schlachter of Iowa City is a member of several environmental groups in the Iowa City area. Comments: b.schlachter@mchsi.com