I was pleased that after years of neglect in candidate debates, a specific question about climate change was asked in the 1st Congressional District debate. Unfortunately, The Tribune article about it didn’t mention the question (“Bishop challengers paint him as career politician,” Oct. 17).
Perhaps more unfortunate, the answers to the specific question of how to address climate change were long on generalities: more wind and solar needed; better cattle grazing can absorb CO2.
How about a specific policy, like carbon fee and dividend, as proposed by the nonpartisan Citizens’ Climate Lobby? Placing a fee on fossil fuels and returning net revenues to Americans would utilize the market to drive a transition to clean energy.
Studies show this policy would decrease greenhouse gas production in the U.S. by 50 percent over 20 years. Border adjustments would motivate other countries to follow the U.S. lead.
Eleven years ago, Gov. Jon Huntsman’s Blue Ribbon Advisory Council on Climate Change warned if we continued to spew greenhouse gases, we would have increased drought and wildfires. (Sound familiar?)
Anyone who lived in Utah this past year knows this issue is real and urgent. Let’s elect candidates who will offer climate solutions that create healthy and safe communities for the future.
David Folland, Sandy
Steering Committee Member, Citizens Climate Lobby SLC Chapter