Climate Change is Too Costly to Ignore
From rising inflation to soaring prices for home and flood insurance to the cost of recovery after unprecedented storms, wildfires, and flooding, climate change is increasingly creating a financial burden for Americans.
Hawaii residents are increasingly feeling the pain of rising household costs caused by America’s reliance on carbon-emitting energy, the interests of international oil producers, and climate change-exacerbated disasters. The Ukrainian war has exacerbated oil prices globally and this is impacting gas and electricity prices across Hawaii.
Get paid while solving climate change…
An effective way to cut emissions is to introduce a progressively increasing price on carbon (yes, you can call it a tax on carbon pollution). When paired with dividends (revenue returned to individuals and households), the policy becomes progressive and just - it allows households, particularly low - middle income, to adapt to the expected increase in prices for high carbon intensity products.
Leis of appreciation
By co-sponsoring the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R. 2307), Rep. Kai Kahele is supporting a liveable world for all. As a symbol of our gratitude, Citizens' Climate Lobby Hawai'i made a special lei for the Congressman and his Senior Policy Advisor, Dave Chun.
Wanted: Political Will to Save Our Planet
It is frustrating to see Washington waffle on critical climate policy. The NY Times recently reported Senator Manchin’s decision not to support the Clean Energy Performance Program. With this, we see the promise of a rapid transition to clean, renewable electricity fade. This failure in political action, not technology, is the biggest problem in addressing climate change. However, there is still hope for an effective climate policy in the budget reconciliation to achieve similar outcomes and reduce emissions by 50% by the end of this decade.