Climate change is “unequivocal” and it is 90 percent certain that the “net effect of human activities since 1750 has been one of warming” of the global climate, according to the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (See http://www.ipcc.ch/) This is the conclusion of a panel of more than 2,500 scientists and other experts from 130-plus countries. However, according to the letter to the editor from Jack Leicester of Shoreline titled “Chase bill on carbon erroneous” (Enterprise, Feb. 8), these conclusions constitute insufficient evidence. In Mr. Leicester’s view, these conclusions, based on experiments, observations and tests, are not only insufficient, they are somehow false. Is he asserting that anything not “proven” to be true is therefore false? Although I am not a philosopher nor a professor of logic, this seems to be an illogical approach to reasoning.
I am an economist with a background in natural resources and development, and have worked with scientists and professionals studying the global climate from many academic fields for several years. These scientists provide far more convincing evidence than the conclusions drawn by Mr. Leicester. Before he challenges the conclusions of thousands of scientists from so many backgrounds and countries, he might provide the sources for his own contrary conclusions. But he does not.
As an economist, I think a carbon tax can be highly effective in changing behavior and reducing our emissions of pollutants that harm human health, damage property and destroy ecosystems. Carbon taxes on “bad behavior” like polluting could replace current taxes on “good behavior” like working, saving and investing. Carbon taxes have the advantage of providing incentives to reduce pollution and increase efficiency. An effective carbon tax system could create an economic boom as “green” industries became more competitive with their polluting rivals. Leaders like Rep. Chase and Gov. Gregoire see an opportunity for our region to become a world leader in green technologies and jobs.
Instead of spending more precious time and resources to prove to the last remaining skeptics that the earth is round, that smoking harms health and that pollution harms our planet, I prefer to support leaders with a vision for our state, our country and our planet.
Tim Payne
Edmonds
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