John Ward: How to become a part the climate change solution

Rescue teams search for people among the remains of the candle factory in Mayfield, Ky. After a deadly tornado ripped through the small community. Dec. 11, 2021

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Overheating is threatening human lives and causing widespread destruction. Three new records were set in December alone. Weather events caused enormous, unaffordable damage.

Eight southern states were hit by a torrent of 69 tornadoes that swept through them Dec. 10-11, causing at least 90 deaths.
100 tornadoes ripped through 11 Central and North Central states on Dec. 15th, thanks to a cyclone.
On December 30, 100 mph winds whipped a fire through Colorado neighborhoods, destroying 1 084 homes. This was an all-time record for a winter flamethrower.

It’s time to get serious about stopping the Temperature rise. In an overheated world, weather disasters will become more frequent, more costly, and more damaging. Here and abroad, much is already being done to address the threat, but we’re late getting started and still doing too little to stop it or even slow it down.

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Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Begin with two things. First, discuss (but don’t argue about) the threat with friends and relatives.

It is essential that more people understand its causes, its dangers and how to stop them. Learn more about that at NASA’s webpage (https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/). It contains information on six topics related to climate change.

The latest research has shown that human activities are responsible for almost all of the temperature increase. These changes have been counterbalanced.

We are the only major cause of the rising temperatures. And that’s fortunate! It means we can stop overheating and reduce the emissions of heat-trapping gases that cause it.

It is difficult and complicated to do this. But we can do it if we all — along with the people and governments of other countries — work together using the strategies and tools we already have and those we will create. This is the greatest threat facing our generation.

Our total attention and participation is required to make a difference. We will spend far less to stop the temperature rising than the rising temperatures and the dangerous weather events that it intensifies.

Second, write to your legislators. It is important that you do everything possible to stop this growing threat. Ask them to assist.

Biden intends to restore climate regulations that his predecessor had rewritten. His Build Back Better bill’s climate provisions would add to those in his American Jobs bill, but it’s not enough to stop the rising heat and growing destruction.

A carbon tax that increases annually and has the proceeds split equally between all Americans would be a good addition to any bill. More than 3,600 economists, including 28 Nobel laureates and 19 who served at the highest levels of federal government under administrations of both parties, have signed a document stating that such a tax would be “the most cost-effective lever to reduce carbon emissions at the scale and speed that is necessary.”

It’s the largest public statement of economists ever. Americans with less income would benefit the most since the distributed money would account for a greater portion of their income.

To stop overheating, a net-zero economy must be established. To get there, the selling of carbon fuel that causes the temperature increase must stop. If it grew in size enough, an annually increasing carbon tax could eventually achieve that.

To offset the tax, carbon fuel sellers would raise prices. This would encourage people to find other ways to use carbon fuel and keep more of the taxed profits.

The money distributed would increase as the tax is gradually increased. There would not be any regulations; once established, the public could decide for themselves whether to stop buying carbon-based fuels or continue to buy them.

Biden’s present efforts are not a complete solution, nor is a carbon tax. We all have the ability to help by improving our own practices, in addition to pushing for government action.

You and I have to be part of the solution. So must the governments and people around the world. The following website offers some good suggestions: www.nrdc.org/stories/how-you-can-stop-global-warming. You can also join groups that use different methods to address this threat.

We all have different circumstances and abilities that may impact the help we can offer, but please do your best. Don’t be a bystander; get involved. The need for help is urgent.

John Ward resides in Gainesville.

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