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Still time to slow down climate change

I am afraid of the recent hot weather and then the news that the world set new record temps, not once but twice. One weather incident does not confirm "climate change," but the trends are clear, as well as 25 to 30 percent of extreme weather events due to increased temps.

Recent surveys show 70 percent of Americans know climate change is in part due to human activity; we are currently putting 10 trillion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. We are seeing the results of this.

But there is hope, which comes from solutions out there just ready to be used by all. Some require spending money on energy efficiency with new furnaces or air conditioning, or a solar roof, LED lights, a hybrid car or better yet, an EV car.

Big changes are also needed because of the short time left to reduce the problems before there is a tipping point. If we enact a carbon fee on coal, oil and gas industries at the source, we can reduce GHG 50 percent by 2030, and if we return 100 percent of the money to all of us, then people can buy renewables, energy efficient appliances, and even hybrid/EV cars.

We are asking Sen. Kirk and Sen. Durbin, who is very environmental, and the representatives to Congress, Hultgren, Roskam, Foster, Duckworth and others to pass carbon fee legislation to slow down climate changes while there is still a time left to make changes.

This would create more jobs in renewable industries, level the playing field in the energy sector, and push us towards a 50 percent solution to the climate crisis. Legislation is underway to fix HFC pollution, like the ozone problem.

Sandy Kaptain

Chairwoman, Elgin Green Groups350.org

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