My Letter to the Editor was published in the local news today.

Unite state, country on carbon pricing

We see the results of climate change in extreme weather causing crop failures, coral reef die-off, global unrest and migration. People and fellow creatures die from heat and natural disasters. International scientists, economists, military analysts and world leaders agree that global warming beyond 1.5 degrees centigrade will trigger climate tipping points that will threaten life.

The most effective resolution to climate crises is to decrease global warming by ceasing to use fossil fuel. Instead, we must use solar, wind, hydropower, ocean tidal power, geothermal, green hydrogen and other innovative energy tools.

Carbon pricing can effectively discourage and decrease fossil fuel production and use. Twelve states and 23 countries have carbon pricing, yet Hawaii and the U.S. as a whole are slow to adopt it.

In March 2020, Hawaii’s Senate passed a carbon pricing bill that the House still needs to pass. Hawaii has the nation’s highest electricity and natural gas rates, despite having the third-lowest electricity consumption of all states. Hawaii will continue to suffer from high energy prices if it depends on imported fossil fuels.

In Congress, the current Build Back Better bill has more consensus on the climate provisions than on the rest of the bill. Furthermore, climate scientists warn the transition to renewable energy isn’t fast enough. Climate Central news reported that since 2020, a 67 percent increase in major power outages was caused by climate events and the Pentagon said climate change threatens U.S. security.