Opinion: Fight carbon to revitalize the planet this Earth Month

In commemoration of the April 22nd Earth Day — celebrations through April have culminated in it becoming Earth Month. Hearteningly, we now see citizens across the Bay Area, California and indeed, the rest of the country too, joining hands to celebrate the 55th year of this remarkable movement that was among the first to recognize the ill-effects of wanton industrialization on life, health and general well-being. First celebrated in 1970, the movement had inspired 20 million Americans to vocalize their concerns, which, positively, led to the establishment of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and its many successful climate legislations. Interestingly, our city of Palo Alto made a strong impression on Earth Day celebrations back in April 1990 when Earth Day Coordinator and Palo Alto resident Denis Hayes displayed burlap sacks filled with empty glass bottles and metal cans that local residents used in a weekly recycling program. Hayes urged people to recycle as an alternative to dumping – an imperative that still looms large as this Earth Day emphasizes the motto ‘Planet v. Plastics’.

Since then, the succeeding decades have been quite remarkable. Beginning here in the United States, the climate movement has permeated other parts of the world, led to the establishment of a dedicated United Nations body to fight climate change, and changed power dynamics unlike ever before. We have voyaged through phases of ignorance, denial, anger, bargaining and, finally, acceptance to know that it is our planet, it is threatened by us — and we must save it.

There is so much we must do to limit the warming of our planet below 1.5 degrees Celsius. We must support others, particularly developing countries, and that is possible only if we strengthen our own infrastructure and systems to become climate-friendly. The end is clear and the paths are many. But we must start from a single point of convergence — one where we recognize that the biggest threat to our climate is indeed carbon.

Rethinking carbon

A Pew Research Center survey of 10,237 US adults finds that 69% of US adults prioritize developing alternative clean energy sources over expanding the production of oil, coal and natural gas. The same share also favors the United States becoming carbon neutral by 2050, a key component of President Joe Biden’s climate and energy policy agenda. The numbers are encouraging and the ill-effects of carbon are undeniable. Now, with the White House agenda established in place, Congress has much to do in bringing to life our national net-zero carbon ambitions.

California Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24) took an important step in introducing the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (EICDA) of 2023. This bill imposes a fee on the carbon content of fossil fuels, or any other product derived from those fuels that will result in the emission of greenhouse gases. The fee is imposed on producers or importers of the fuels and is equal to the greenhouse gas content of the fuel multiplied by the carbon fee rate. Most encouragingly, the bill enforces that the fees must be deposited into a Carbon Dividend Trust Fund that will be used for administrative expenses and dividend payments to US citizens or lawful residents. Introduced in September 2023, the bill currently has 14 cosponsors.

And, what better time than Earth Month to think about this important legislation that not only quantifies the cost of carbon in the atmosphere but also redirects cash flows to empower citizens in their climate journey.

In fact, the EICDA would play a strong complementary role to Palo Alto’s own sustainability goal that aims to achieve 80% reduction of emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Monikered as “80×30,” this carbon reduction goal has been further supported by Palo Alto’s vision to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. A large part of achieving these goals will be citizen consciousness and action. And, what better to incentivize citizens to take the clean leap towards sustainability than reimbursing their coffers and allowing them to embrace new technologies like signing up for the heat pump water heater program or making a switch to Electric Vehicles (EVs)?

Citizens first

Remember, the 1970 Earth Day movement began with a convergence of citizens’ interest and became successful because of the 20 million US citizens — 10% of the country’s population then — who voiced their concerns and took to the streets. The power of converging citizen sentiments can be a true force of nature and the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2023 recognizes exactly this.

Earth Month is not just a time to celebrate the climate movement but also a momentous occasion to celebrate the power of ordinary citizens. In celebrating this month — which indeed should be a year-round mantra — let’s join hands to save the planet and also, celebrate ourselves. Our power, our ability, and our empowerment in making a difference is what truly matters!

Radhika Dutt, a Mountain View resident, is an energy communications specialist. She has also been a journalist and volunteers with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a non-profit organization advancing bipartisan climate solutions. She can be reached at [email protected].

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