Greta Thunberg’s determination and wisdom richly justify her selection as Time’s Person of the Year. In remarks to Congress in September, she highlighted two key elements of effective climate action: avoiding distracting partisan agendas and focusing on science and facts.
Greta told Congress the climate crisis “is not primarily an opportunity to create new green jobs, new businesses or green economic growth.” She didn’t mention the Green New Deal by name, but apparently had its polarizing agenda in mind.
She also told Congress, “It’s time to face the reality, the facts, the science.” Our best source of scientific reality is the peer-reviewed research summarized in reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC tells us we face a decades-long international struggle unprecedented in human history. The Green New Deal instead naively claims that its goals can be “accomplished through a 10-year national mobilization.” Greta probably views this as an example of the “feel-good stories about how we are going to fix everything.”
In contrast, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act embodies the goals of nonpartisanship and focused action. It calls for a rising price on carbon, which the IPCC considers a necessary “lubricant” to break the climate logjam. The proceeds are simply returned to all citizens to offset increased energy prices. This revenue-neutral plan encourages individuals to lower their carbon footprints and businesses to invest in innovative sustainable technologies. You can view a realistic proposal to work toward a livable world for Greta’s generation at citizensclimatelobby.org/energy-innovation-and-carbon-dividend-act.
ROBERT R. MITCHELL
Murrysville
The writer is a member of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
First Published: December 25, 2019, 5:00 a.m.
