There are many important issues on the ballot this fall, but in the long run none are more important than Initiative 1631. The time for debate has passed and it is time to actually do something about human-caused climate change. The science is settled. There can be no more excuses.
You cannot perform a test to “prove” carbon emissions produce climate change. But once scientists noticed a relationship between the two, they started collecting data. The more data they collected, the more sure they became of the correlation between carbon emissions and warming temperatures around the globe. Virtually all climate scientists now agree we are harming the entire planet. Almost every country has signed on to the Paris Climate Accord. But the people currently in charge of our federal government have pulled us out of that agreement and actively promote the burning of more coal and oil. They are ignoring the science and endangering our future for cheaper energy today.
Preserving our environment always costs more than allowing excess pollution to destroy it. We’ve accepted the added costs for things like unleaded gasoline, catalytic converters, low-sulfur coal, waste treatment plants and other measures to protect our environment. It is imperative that we step up and help our nation reduce our carbon output. We will pay a little more for energy, but to ignore this problem is unthinkable. Please protect the future of our planet for our children and vote yes on I-1631.
Eric Selby
Lake Stevens
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
