Yes vote for I-1631 will begin to address climate change

Published 1:30 am Friday, October 19, 2018

I have grandchildren and I want them to live in a world where people care about their future. Washington voters can do just that by voting yes on Initiative 1631.

I-1631 will charge a fee to the worst polluters who burn oil and gas releasing carbon pollution into the air we breathe, causing a whole bunch of bad outcomes. Carbon’s effects are very visible in our daily lives. This type of pollution warms the planet, creating conditions that produce more frequent and devastating wildfires (creating the dangerous smoky days we endured the past two summers). The ocean waters warm, creating conditions for massive rainfall, huge and frequent hurricanes, storms, landslides and flooding. You’ve seen it happening already. The health effects from these events can be devastating.

What can we do? We can decide we have the will to solve this big, complicated problem. There are different opinions about how (and even if) to address it. But I say we must. We can begin by curtailing the worst carbon pollution by ensuring that polluters pay to clean up the mess they are making. These fees will go toward developing cleaner energy resources, creating clean energy jobs, helping people most impacted by pollution.

A coalition of over 400 organizations (labor unions, tribal nations, faith groups, medical organizations, environmental/ccientific groups) have joined to support and promote the passage of I-1631. When I talk to friends and neighbors in Everett about this, they are excited to support it. Will you join us? Vote yes on 1631!

My grandkids and I thank you.

Donna Witte

Everett