Effective and expedient answer to climate change

In January, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued this alarming report: 'Last year was an extraordinary year for weather and climate events in the U.S. with 22 unprecedented billion-dollar disasters, a record number of named tropical storms, and the most active wildfire year on record.”

Locally, we suffered the derecho that mangled Iowa. Unfortunately, much of this climate-driven destruction was eclipsed by the daily news about the devastating global pandemic.

Putting a price on carbon is the most effective, expedient and practical way we can quickly make a huge difference. Economists, environmentalists, climate scientists, many politicians and citizens of all persuasions, and even fossil fuel corporations support a fee and dividend on carbon.

An annually increasing fee on carbon would be revenue neutral, because the proceeds are returned to the people to offset the increasing costs of using fossil fuels. Exhaustive research shows it is fair and equitable, as well as good for people and the economy. Best of all, it is our most effective approach to quickly reducing our carbon output with positive impacts on America's emissions, economy and health. But it will take a groundswell of public opinion and support to make it happen.

Citizens Climate Lobby has a link to our senators and representatives that sends a letter urging them to support a Fee and Dividend approach to reducing carbon emissions: citizensclimatelobby.org/write-your-representative.

Let's do this now. We are running out of time.

Miriam Kashia

North Liberty