Act now on climate

The Spokesman-Review got it wrong when it failed to endorse the carbon tax initiative, I-732. Since our legislative leaders won’t address climate change, and we have a moral responsibility to take action, we must focus on carbon reduction strategies now.

Putting a price on carbon pollution is the most straightforward way to reduce carbon emissions. Initiative 732 covers most of the state’s climate pollution and is the most important reform of our state’s regressive tax system in 40 years. It is revenue neutral, so it won’t harm our economy while it helps us move towards renewable energy sources. The carbon tax in British Columbia has been working for eight years, and its biggest flaw, freezing the tax levy, isn’t allowed under I-732.

The true risk to our planet’s future is to do nothing and wait four more years for the next initiative to arrive. Without action, 2015’s extreme wildfire season and record drought in eastern Washington will be the new normal before the end of this century. We must act now to tackle climate change and leave a cleaner, healthier world for our families. Vote yes on I-732.

John Covert

Spokane