Jan Freed: Save the planet through a per-ton price on carbon, rebates

To The Daily Sun,

Wharton Sinkler urges The Sun to choose well-informed climate letters over "sloppy" ones that repeat and foster indifference to what almost 200 of the world’s top science academies (NASA has a list in their discussion of consensus) state that yes, the climate is changing (more than in the last 12,000 years) and the Earth’s ability to sustain us is threatened.

Whether or not the Sun selects more informed sources or not, at least I can offer my two cents:

In the last 40 years, catastrophic billion-dollar disasters have increased five to nine times. The odds that record-high temperatures occur by chance is one divided by the number of stars in the universe. It is easier to win the lottery five times in a row.

By far, most Americans say, "OK. What can I do?"

I think the conservative approach (See the Conservative Leadership Council) is best: Put a per-ton price on carbon and rebate all fees to citizens equally. We are protected from price spikes, and are being paid to "go green." It will save us money and create jobs.

This policy is favored by 27 Nobel Prize-winning economists who make a living studying energy and consumer behavior. Add the World Bank and MIT for similar studies.

Each of us pollute (though we don’t want to). Each of us has the ethical obligation to select serious candidates running for office. Our children’s planet should not be for sale. Let's not roll over and play dead for Big Carbon. The transition to clean energy is within reach.

Jan Freed

Los Angeles