Letter: Take climate change seriously before it’s too late

Washington’s escalating temperatures and air pollution from forest fires are directly caused by green house gases. Failure to take preventive action creates a U.S. atmosphere that resembles that of China.

Thanks, TCH for warnings to stay inside, avoid outdoor activity, and notice the health hazard for children, elderly, and others.

Actions like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and Trump’s cop-out from the Paris Climate Accord, create an untenable world. “Oh my goodness, look!” is a useless response to weather that we helped create. Our inaction endangers every life on earth. Citizens Climate Lobby suggests that we enact federal legislation for a carbon fee. The fee, returned to households, would offset increases in energy costs. Studies show that this would cut CO2 emissions to 50 percent of 1990 levels within 20 years. It uses market forces to control carbon emissions rather than regulation.

Let’s thank Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell for their support of this legislation. Let’s ask Representative Dan Newhouse to join the Climate Solutions Caucus, learn how to reduce greenhouse gases, and support a climate fee and dividend before it is too late.

This story was originally published August 19, 2017 at 3:28 PM with the headline "Letter: Take climate change seriously before it’s too late."