To the editor:

The announcement by President Obama about new regulations to control greenhouse gas emissions from power plants was made in lieu of any action from Congress. These regulations are needed to reduce the risks posed by climate change: sea level rise, extreme heat, food shortages, damage from extreme weather. 

As we approach the Paris climate conference in December, the world is looking to the U.S. to provide leadership on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “Just say no,” the response from some members of Congress, is not a viable option if we want to preserve a livable world. With two-thirds of the public, according to one poll, supporting the regulations, efforts to thwart the new rules carry great risk and no reward politically.

If Republicans want to avoid new regulations, they should offer an alternative, market-based solution: a rising fee on carbon with revenue returned to households. According to a study from Regional Economic Models, Inc., carbon fee and dividend would actually achieve better reductions than regulations while adding 2.8 million jobs to the economy over 20 years. This is a conservative approach, as opposed to regulation.

Increasingly, senior military personnel are speaking out on these subjects. These are serious people and we should listen. Delay will only make the process of change more difficult so the president has decided to act in the only way he has at his disposal. Citizen’s Climate Lobby needs your voice as we work to encourage our elected officials to act in a responsible way.