Download Carbon tax could alter course of climate change

 NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE OP-­ED, JUNE 10, 2013 Carbon tax could alter course of climate change By Teresa Campbell Debris litters the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J., after Superstorm Sandy. A recent study warned that much of U.S. infrastructure is vulnerable to 'phenomena associated with climate change.' / File / AP Recently, Sen. Lamar Alexander addressed America’s need to alter its energy course, outlining four principles to guide future energy policy. It’s gratifying to see our senator take the lead in the necessary work of changing how we drive our country. His May 29 speech at the Tennessee Valley Corridor National Summit in Oak Ridge came after a month of sobering climate news. The most recent, an international study led by John Cook of the University of Queensland in Australia, surveyed 12,000 peer-­‐reviewed scientific papers on climate change written between 1991 and 2011. Cook and his colleagues found that 97 percent of climate scientists concur that human activity, led by the use of fossil fuels, has been the main cause of rising temperatures in recent decades. “There is a strong scientific agreement about the cause of climate change, despite public perceptions to the contrary,” Cook said. “When people understand that scientists agree on global warming, they’re more likely to support policies that take action on it.” Also last month came the news from the research facility on Mauna Loa, Hawaii, that the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide — the principal greenhouse gas — has exceeded 400 parts per million (ppm). CO2 levels that high last occurred in the Pliocene epoch 3 million years ago, when the caps smaller climate was a lot warmer, ice and sea levels 60-­‐80 feet higher. For the entire period of human civilization, about 8,000 years, CO2 stabilized around 280 ppm. The burning of fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution, a geological instant, has caused a 41 percent increase in greenhouse gases. If we hope to avert catastrophic damage from global warming, countries agree that 450 ppm is the limit. Business as usual will have us there in a couple of decades. On April 29, the Center for American Progress published a report showing we have spent $136 billion on disaster relief between 2011 and 2013. The National Climate Assessment warned that much of U.S. infrastructure is vulnerable to “phenomena associated with climate change, including sea level rise, storm surge, heavy downpours and The rapid switch from fossil fuels to extreme heat.” These figures reflect the true renewable energy would create 4 million jobs cost of carbon pollution from the burning of nationwide. Border adjustments on goods “cheap” fossil fuels. from countries without similar carbon pricing It’s time to talk real solutions. The solution would protect American businesses and offered by former Secretary of State George encourage an international solution. Schultz holds the most promise: a slowly In a world where we have everything to rising, revenue-­‐neutral carbon tax. Carbon is lose with business as usual, a carbon tax is priced at its source, the mine, well or port of win-­‐win for the economy, our health, jobs and entry. The price would go up every year so the future of our grandkids. that within a decade, renewable energy I am hopeful our Sens. Lamar Alexander would be cheaper than fossil fuels without and Bob Corker will lead Congress in finding subsidies. The tax would be returned to ways to drastically reduce emissions of American households to offset rising costs; greenhouse gases. As recent news indicates, most families would break even or come out the time for delay is over; Congress needs to ahead with the annually increasing dividend. pass serious climate legislation, such as a With a predictable rise in the cost of fossil revenue-­‐neutral carbon tax. fuels, markets will point consumers, investors Teresa Campbell is a group leader for and entrepreneurs toward clean energy. No the Nashville Citizens Climate Lobby. need for government to choose winners or losers. WEB LINK http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013306110017&nclick_check=1 CCL FILENAME 2013 06 10 Tennesseean Campbell OPED Carbon tax could alter course of climate change