“The greatest threat we have to this planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”
— Robert Swan
Do you remember your first river trip or your first time standing on the shore of a lovely body of water? One of my first experiences was in 1973, in a vinyl two-person kayak on the Colorado River outside of Moab.
These types of kayaks were made to paddle around on swimming pools and lakes. Equipped with my new kayak and a small rubber dinghy to tow our provisions behind, myself and two friends decided to see how that kayak would do through class 3 and 4 rapids in Westwater Canyon. I’ve lost count of how many times that boat flipped or someone was washed out. Of course we lost the dinghy carrying all of our water, food and beverages but miraculously escaped with our lives.
Whew. Lessons learned.
Floating along the Colorado River in July and August always meant the chance and welcome relief of monsoon thunder showers, amazing waterfalls flowing down the red canyon walls and the sweet smell of the desert after a rain. I was hooked.
The monsoons are occurring less frequently. While we have had more than our fair share of drought since the late 1990s, this year particularly stands out with the record temperatures, low water levels and a lack of precipitation in areas west of the Continental Divide.
So, how have we dealt with protection of water up until now? In 1922, seven basin states signed the Colorado River Compact, which calculated how much water was in the Colorado River Basin and delineated how it should be split up. Even though there is a compact and treaties signed, states are still in conflict about water rights.
What is the solution to this competition for a finite source of water? We know that conservation is critical, and working together to provide water for all of our needs is vital. The obvious way to deal with reduced water flows and the mega-drought is to look at the big picture, and find ways to address our changing climate.
One solution and a first big step towards reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that are changing our climate is to place a price on carbon.
“Carbon pricing” is a market-based strategy for lowering global warming emissions.
How does carbon pricing work?
It puts an increasing price on polluting carbon. When a price on carbon is placed at its source nationally, it sends a signal through the economy. Industries and businesses respond by becoming more energy efficient and rely upon clean, renewable energy.
It puts money in our pockets. A carbon tax is affordable for ordinary Americans because the money collected from fossil fuel companies is given as a dividend, or “carbon cash back” payment, to every American to spend with no restrictions.
It saves lives. A carbon price will save 4.5 million American lives over the next 50 years by restoring clean air across the country.
It calls for a border adjustment. To protect U.S. manufacturers and jobs, imported goods will pay a border carbon adjustment in accord with their carbon intensive production. Goods exported from the United States will receive a refund under this policy.
There is a reconciliation package now being drafted in the Senate deciding what action they will take on climate change. Go to this link: cclusa.org/senate to call or write your senator and encourage them to add carbon pricing to the package.
This blog will give you some context: It’s crunch time for climate policy.
The time is now.
Julie Hancock
Julie Hancock was a backcountry ranger in Arches National Park and Zion National Park and recently retired as the director of the Canyon Community Center in Springdale. She lives in Virgin, Utah.
