On June 25, President Obama gave a major and long-awaited address outlining his administration’s plans for combating climate change. He described three overall initiatives: reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening U.S. capacity to respond to extreme weather, and moving into a leadership role internationally to work with other countries to get a handle on their emissions as well. Within this comprehensive framework, he provided many specific actions that can and will be taken without requiring legislation from Congress, most importantly regulating carbon emissions from existing coal- and gas-fired power plants.

Congress, however, should not be let off the hook. Economists across the political spectrum agree that the most effective way to reduce our carbon emissions is by putting a price on carbon at the point at which it is released into the atmosphere (or, in case of imports, when the manufactured item enters the U.S.). The most creative idea for managing such a carbon fee is to redistribute the funds collected to American citizens to cover the inevitable increase in cost of energy and the goods that rely on energy for their production and transportation.

Known as the “carbon fee and dividend” plan, this provides the necessary financial incentive for the energy industry and manufacturers to invest in a major way in clean-energy alternatives to fossil fuels. Those concerned about climate change (isn’t that practically all of us by now?) should contact Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Rep. Greg Walden asking that they support carbon fee and dividend legislation.

Helen Seidler

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