Recently I visited New Zealand, where the effects of the climate emergency are striking.
We hiked up a valley to a point where we could see the base of the Franz Joseph Glacier. A sign noted, “In 2009, the glacier ended here.” As we gazed at the glacier in the far distance, we were astounded to consider the amount of ice that had melted in just 10 years.
As a landlocked desert state, Utah is warming at almost twice the global average. While the changes are not as visible as in New Zealand, the effects are as consequential.
Unfortunately, the United Nations’ efforts to curb world emissions have been ineffective. One solution could bypass the U.N. stall, the bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. This policy would place a fee on fossil fuels and return revenues to Americans. A border adjustment would incentivize our trading partners to enact an equivalent carbon fee or tax.
The back of the sign at the glacier viewpoint read, “What can I do about climate change?” Among the recommendations was “Write to your government officials!” Let’s end the year with a holiday gift of writing our representatives and senators, demanding effective climate policy.
David Folland, Sandy
