Dear Editor:
Scientists have been sounding the alarm about global warming since James Hansen, head of NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, studied the impact of rising levels of greenhouse gases in 1981. Warnings from thousands of reports, widely covered in "An Inconvenient Truth," "Planet In Peril" and "Years of Living Dangerously," underscore what scientists around the world contributing to the International Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) ongoing efforts make increasingly clear.
Human activities are pumping out 50 billion tons per year of greenhouse gases. The earth's atmosphere into which these gases are pumped is only 60 miles high, so thin it is barely visible from outer space. Carbon dioxide levels have shot past 350 PPM levels to 400 PPM and rising, accompanied by the rise of earth's temperatures to record-breaking heights. Fourteen of the warmest years on record have been since 2000. This year, 2015, is on pace to become the hottest year on record.
The message of Pope Francis is that we need to take urgent action to avoid the worst impacts of global warming. Every other nation on earth, every National Academy of Science in the world concurs. This is our last best chance to take heed.
Missouri generates 80 percent of the state's electricity in aging coal-burning power plants, outsourcing our energy dollars and jobs to import coal from Wyoming. Those who would shout down the pope in the Show Me state are rigging publicity campaigns in opposition to the Clean Power Plan - along with all the economic benefits of solar, wind, geothermal and energy efficiency. Attacks by the coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, and electric power industries serve their bottom line, at the expense of the people of Missouri.
The Clean Power Plan is a great first step. We also need a tax on carbon on the coal, oil, and natural gas fields. This income would be distributed equally to every American to incentivize such options as solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, wood stoves, insulation, investing in energy efficient appliances, lighting and heating and cooling systems. This will create thousands of high-paying new jobs across virtually every sector of the economy.
Missourians overwhelmingly support renewable energy and energy efficiency, job creation, lower electricity costs and a healthier environment. Let us speak out and vote in our own best interests and that of future generations, while there is still time to leave our children a livable world!
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