Join Citizens' Climate Lobby at March 10 meeting
Report from the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County Education Committee: Heavy storms, wild winds, droughts, wildfires, and floods, all indications of climate scientists foretelling of climate change effects. This isn't the future, of course, all these weather phenomena are happening in our world at the present time. Climate change is not a future possibility; it's a current presence around the world.
The bad news is it's only going to get worse, but the good news is we can still minimize how much worse it will get for future generations if we act promptly to reduce the fossil fuel emissions of heat-trapping gases that are indisputably warming the planet.
The education committee of Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is partnering with Citizens' Climate Lobby, a political nonpartisan, grass-roots advocacy organization that supports thousands of volunteers to generate political will for a livable world. Political will is what motivates elected officials to take action on an issue, and in our case, that issue is climate change.
To reduce carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, CCL advocates for a steadily rising fee on carbon with revenue from that fee returned to households. A study released in 2014 found that CCL's "Carbon Fee and Dividend" proposal would cut CO2 emissions 50 percent in 20 years while adding nearly three million jobs to the economy.
The education committee has been instrumental in starting a McHenry County Chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby. The chapter meets monthly to connect with other CCL chapters and to take actions that will influence elected leaders in Washington. James Hansen, the nation's foremost climatologist on global warming, said this about CCL: "If you want to join the fight to save the planet, to save creation for your grandchildren, there is no more effective step you could take than becoming an active member of this group."
The next meeting of the McHenry County Chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at the Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, 8505 Church St., Ridgefield. Those interested are invited to attend.
The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment. The group provides community residents with educational programs and volunteer action on pollution prevention, sustainable land use and energy and natural resource conservation. Donations are encouraged and are tax-deductible as charitable contributions. For information, visit www.mcdef.org or call (815) 338-0393.