Letter to the editor: We need action on climate change in new year

The year 2019 saw much bad news on climate change, from destructive forest fires in the Amazon to disappointing results from the U.N. Climate Summit in Madrid.

In the journal Nature, seven climate scientists laid out the case for the planet being in a state of climate emergency — as evidence suggests that several major earth systems are at risk of reaching a state of irreversible change unless we act now.

Last year, I resolved and then took steps to reduce my personal carbon footprint. I switched to renewable electricity, walked and used public transit as much as possible, and switched to more efficient appliances. However, personal action is not enough. We need political action to change the rules of the economy so that greenhouse gas polluters pay.

There is a bill in Congress, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, that would reduce U.S. emissions 40% in the first 12 years. This bill, which has bipartisan support, would give people a monthly dividend check from a tax on fossil fuels. Studies have shown that the economy would grow by 2.1 million jobs after 10 years, and 2.8 million after 20 years.

This new year, I call on Sens. Pat Toomey and Bob Casey and Reps. Mike Doyle and Conor Lamb to take urgent action on climate change.

Dana Siler

Squirrel Hill