Energy Innovation Act
Dear Editor: Imagine you’re out with friends and you spring a leak in your boat out in the middle of the fishing grounds ... water is coming in, the leak is getting worse, you’re far from land with no one near by to help, your boat will sink if you don’t do something and soon. Some people on the boat are trying to stop the leak, some recognize the leak but are scared and don’t know what to do, and a few people are just listening to the band until the boat goes down. Some people say pump out the boat, but until you stop the leak, it’s just going to keep filling with water. Some people are fighting over who caused the leak and who ought to fix it. But we’re Alaskans. We know, right now, we don’t really need to know whose fault it is. No, to save ourselves and the boat, we just need to stop the leak with anything and everything we have.
Now let’s look at climate change and ocean acidification ... instead of a boat, it’s our planet Earth. Instead of water coming in, it is CO2 and other greenhouse gases “leaking” out through burning of fossil fuels and other human actions. Same idea though, we’re putting so much CO2 into the air that our “boat” (our atmosphere and our oceans) is filling up and we’re starting to sink.
Need proof of that sinking? Take all the worst scenarios or models you’ve seen for climate change ocean acidification and throw them out the window because it is worse than we think. Sure we could pay attention to the fires in the Amazon or the hurricanes in the Bahamas or Florida or the NOAA reports that say the pH of surface ocean waters has fallen by 0.1 (representing a 30% increase in acidity) in the last 200 years ... but I don’t need news of far away places or government reports to tell me about climate change and ocean acidification. Instead I just look at my Alaskan neighbors. I hear the story of a friend in Sitka who has lived next to a stream with a pink salmon run every year for over 30 years – who has no pink salmon in her stream (and no pink salmon awaiting to enter her stream). I hear the stories about houses eroding in the Yupik village of Quinhagak. I hear the story of trees drying up weeks or months ahead of schedule around Sitka. I hear about the “blob” of hot water that is developing again off our Alaskan coast threatening our source of food, our economy, and our whole ecosystem. I see insects I’ve never seen before eating my trees and eating my vegetables. I hear about rainforest communities around Southeast that are burning diesel because their hydropower has dried up and fishermen who are struggling to catch fish. And I, like so many, pray for rain.
We’re there folks; we are sinking this boat. We need to recognize and admit to the leak. We need to realize that there is no quick fix to this leak. We need to stop fighting over who caused it and who is going to pay for fixing it. We need to stop fighting over the best way to fill the leak ... we just need to use whatever ways we can to stop the leak. But there is good news! We have ways – collectively and individually – to help stop the “leak” that is causing climate change and ocean acidification:
1) Take time today to learn about the “Energy Innovation Act” H.R. 763 at http://www.energyinnovationact.org. This is actual legislation in Congress co-sponsored by 62 House members! This commonsense legislation will address climate change and promote American technology innovation and economic growth at the same time through the proven mechanism of a carbon fee and dividend.
2) If you support this legislation and have a business, are a community leader, lead a not-for-profit, etc. - endorse this legislation at the link above to show there is support behind commonsense climate action.
3) As individuals urge our Alaskan Congressional delegation to either co-sponsor this legislation (Rep. Don Young) or to introduce and co-sponsor it in the Senate (Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan). Make sure you tell them why, as Alaskans, you want this legislation passed.
4) Join the local Sitka chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby this Saturday, 8:30 a.m. at the See House (behind St. Peter’s Church) and work with like-minded Sitkans to pass climate change legislation; and join us this Friday at 6 p.m. at Centennial Hall for a talk by Kelsey Skaggs.
5) Join Sitka youth and other climate supporters as part of a Worldwide Climate Strike on Tuesday, September 24, 11:15 a.m. at Sitka High School.
6) AND do what Sitkans do so well to slow climate change – do what you can yourself! Among so many options, ride your bike, walk, or ride with that friend who has an electric car, switch from burning fuel to a heat pump, eat local and grow your own food, and yes – use reusable water bottles, flatware, bags, etc. Get creative! The ways to reduce CO2 are endless.
Are we really going to let this boat sink? As Dug Jensen would say – “Take an active role in your own rescue!” It’s time for US to start plugging the leak that is causing climate change and ocean acidification. What kind of person will you be on this boat we call the Earth?
Michelle Putz,
Citizens’ Climate Lobby,
Sitka Chapter volunteer
