Generational responsibility and bipartisanship are themes I'm happily hearing from candidates at town halls this midterm campaign season. While this concern for fiscal stewardship and cross-aisle cooperation most often emerges in reference to Medicare, Social Security, and overall budget matters for the good of the American people, as a climatologist, I believe they apply equally and as urgently to federal climate action.
This month the Yale Program on Climate Communication released documentation that a majority across the U.S. believe that climate change will harm Americans.
Here in Arkansas, one of the most vivid and tangible climate impacts we're already experiencing is reflected in rapid shift in climate zones documented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's maps from 1990, 2006 and 2012. As explained by the University of Arkansas' Division of Agriculture Research and Extension, hardiness zones have shifted north by about 175 miles in 22 years, indicating a substantial shift in what crops and plants are viable across Arkansas. For example, in Northwest Arkansas, zone 6b now only exists in higher elevations and the state has become dominated by zone 7. Zone 8a, which had previously been confined to the gulf coastal plain region, now reaches to Little Rock.
Not only does climate change force changes to our way of life, it's also expensive. It's especially expensive for future generations. With the cost of climate change to the U.S. economy averaging $240 billion a year, America can't afford not to act, according to a recent article in USA Today. The cost will only continue to rise if we ignore action on climate change.
A study by the Institute for Policy Integrity at the New York University School of Law found that 84 percent of economists believe that global warming presented a clear danger to the U.S. and global economies. Agriculture, fishing, insurance, and health services were among the industries economists predicted would lose the most productivity as a result of climate change. These industries help form the backbone of the American economy, especially in rural America.
So what to do about it? How can we be fiscally responsible and safeguard the well-being of future generations?
The Yale polling also indicates that a majority of Americans support a revenue-neutral carbon tax on fossil fuel companies. This includes Arkansans, where a majority in every county except one are in favor. The Yale question posits the collection of a carbon tax in exchange for income-tax reductions. Along similar lines of revenue neutrality, members of the nonpartisan Citizens' Climate Lobby have been advocating for bipartisan support of a national revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend policy. I describe it as fair, simple money in your pocket.
National and Arkansas-focused studies by the nonpartisan Regional Economic Models Inc. show that a properly constructed carbon fee and dividend proposal can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs and saving lives through reduced pollutants. The Arkansas study showed 20,000 to 30,000 new Arkansas jobs above baseline over 15 years, while reducing CO2 emissions more than the EPA's Clean Power Plan goals for Arkansas.
As Citizens' Climate Lobby Executive Director Mark Reynolds said recently: "The Yale poll shows we're approaching the tipping point for the political will to enact a market-based solution to climate change like Carbon Fee and Dividend. The American public sees that we don't have to choose between protecting the economy and preserving a livable climate. We can do both by pricing carbon and returning the revenue to households."
Revenue-neutral carbon pricing is an approach that can gain bipartisan support. In addition, support for market solutions is already growing in the business community and has support of economists.
To secure our children and grandchildren's future, both economically and climatically bipartisan action must be taken now. A national carbon fee and dividend policy is an effective, polling-positive way to secure this end which has bipartisan support.
I encourage readers to urge our Arkansas congressional delegation to work for bipartisan climate solutions. Call, email or show up at a town hall and voice your support for climate action.
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Climatologist Robert McAfee of Hackett is administrator of Arkansas Citizens' Climate League.
Editorial on 08/30/2018