Mueller Lake Park Outdoor Amphitheater
Bipartisan Climate Change Solutions
RECEIVED Wed., Dec. 25, 2019
Dear Editor,
It should come as no surprise that one of the most important election years for Texas coincides with the some of the hottest temperatures recorded in history. This election will determine how we approach the climate crisis and whether we develop meaningful bipartisan solutions or embrace Trumpian tactics of denial and, for the large part, silence. The Chronicle recently posted a summation of top stories from [2019, “Never a Slow News Day,” News, Dec. 20, 2019], pointing out the seriousness of homelessness relief to political scandals. One of these topics in this article that should come as no surprise is the appearance of blue-green algae in much of Lady Bird Lake this past summer, a consequence of intense summer heat that posed fatal threats to dogs around the city. This, however, is only a glimpse into the future of our state if no action is taken in government to course-correct climate change. Representatives like Chip Roy, Pete Olson, John Carter, and two dozen other incumbents will have to prove themselves qualified to attack this issue in the next election or risk losing their seat.
Texas is a changing state. Young people are moving here every day, young people who understand the seriousness of climate change and will vote based on this issue. If these incumbents, being primarily Republican, cannot speak to this demographic, they may lose in 2020. The good news is bipartisan solutions exist in Congress today. The Center on Global Energy Policy recently released a review of seven carbon tax proposals introduced to Congress in 2018-2019. One of these policies, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, has been co-sponsored in Congress by Francis Rooney (R-Fla.) as a capitalist-friendly approach to mitigating the climate crisis. If you have not heard about the carbon tax and dividend proposal and would like to learn more, please visit Citizens’ Climate Lobby online for more information. Thank you for taking time to read this response.
It should come as no surprise that one of the most important election years for Texas coincides with the some of the hottest temperatures recorded in history. This election will determine how we approach the climate crisis and whether we develop meaningful bipartisan solutions or embrace Trumpian tactics of denial and, for the large part, silence. The Chronicle recently posted a summation of top stories from [2019, “Never a Slow News Day,” News, Dec. 20, 2019], pointing out the seriousness of homelessness relief to political scandals. One of these topics in this article that should come as no surprise is the appearance of blue-green algae in much of Lady Bird Lake this past summer, a consequence of intense summer heat that posed fatal threats to dogs around the city. This, however, is only a glimpse into the future of our state if no action is taken in government to course-correct climate change. Representatives like Chip Roy, Pete Olson, John Carter, and two dozen other incumbents will have to prove themselves qualified to attack this issue in the next election or risk losing their seat.
Texas is a changing state. Young people are moving here every day, young people who understand the seriousness of climate change and will vote based on this issue. If these incumbents, being primarily Republican, cannot speak to this demographic, they may lose in 2020. The good news is bipartisan solutions exist in Congress today. The Center on Global Energy Policy recently released a review of seven carbon tax proposals introduced to Congress in 2018-2019. One of these policies, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, has been co-sponsored in Congress by Francis Rooney (R-Fla.) as a capitalist-friendly approach to mitigating the climate crisis. If you have not heard about the carbon tax and dividend proposal and would like to learn more, please visit Citizens’ Climate Lobby online for more information. Thank you for taking time to read this response.
Sincerely,
Gloria Farrisi
Gloria Farrisi
