Des Orsinelli: It took political courage to stand up for Cap & Trade

Thank you to our bipartisan state legislators (especially Heath Flora and Tom Berryhill), California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger and others for their support of California’s extension of Cap and Trade. While a carbon fee and dividend (defined by the Citizens Climate Lobby) is more efficient at a federal and global level, Cap and Trade just might work here.

Californians (and especially our agricultural and coastal communities) have a lot to lose if human-caused global warming continues as usual. Computer models suggest two things: First, by 2100 the Central Valley will suffer the desert-like temperatures of Tucson, Ariz. Second, our Sierra snow-pack will continue to diminish.

It took real courage to support this legislation. Being the adult in the room is what makes me proudest to be a Californian. Thank you Wenger, Flora, Berryhill and others who supported California cap and trade.

This story was originally published October 10, 2017 at 11:13 AM with the headline "Des Orsinelli: It took political courage to stand up for Cap & Trade."