Des Orsinelli: Solution is obvious, pass a carbon tax to cut emissions

Re “Scientist witness carbon dioxide trapping heat in air” (Online, Feb. 25): The final paragraph of the article states “The study is good technical work … but it is expected – sort of like confirming gravity with a falling rock.” And that’s where we are – investigating the obvious.

Of course CO2 traps heat. Of course humans emit accelerating gobs of it.

Atmospheric CO2 was under 290 parts per million for 800,000 years until 1860; now it’s over 400 ppm. We have a problem. I believe the solution is a federal law that collects a fee on carbon where it is pulled out of the ground. Then distribute all that money as a dividend to U.S. households. We start low and increase the fee yearly until emissions recede deeply. This places a cost on carbon without making government big.

I urge congressmen Jeff Denham to help pass a law before the international summit in Paris this year. If America leads, other nations will follow. After all, Russia’s successful first launch of a human into space motivated us to reach the moon. This time let America set the aim, to protect our planet for those who follow.

This story was originally published March 10, 2015 at 12:17 PM with the headline "Des Orsinelli: Solution is obvious, pass a carbon tax to cut emissions."