This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Rick McKee's political cartoon "Take that, climate change!" (Opinion, June 30th) shows President Barack Obama trying to plug the carbon output from U.S. smokestacks while those in China and India belch away, making the problem worse. It clearly illustrates the limitations of Obama's announced action to confront climate change.
China is the world's biggest producer of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. Unilateral action by the United States will make only a small dent on the world emissions.
Concerned about climate change, I recently joined 350 other volunteers with Citizens Climate Lobby in Washington, D.C. We asked senators and representatives to tax carbon pollution at the source (mines, wells, or port of entry) and return the proceeds to households.
Such congressional action would not only reduce electricity generation from coal, it would spur a broad transition to clean energy. As part of a comprehensive energy policy, it would put us in a position to work with China and other big polluters to reduce emissions.
About 2,300 lobbyists advocate for fossil fuels. Our elected representatives hear from them frequently. You and I must write, call and talk with our senators and representatives just as frequently and demand solutions that are more effective than presidential edict.
David Folland
Sandy