Roberts letter: Climate change

Thank you to the Idaho Statesman for your coverage of the Paris climate summit (Nov. 30). Hopefully the meeting will result in a meaningful agreement among the world’s leaders that will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. It’s essential that we act immediately, especially in light of all the global heat records that have been broken recently. While increased investment in clean technology will be helpful, carbon pricing is necessary to hasten the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. A price or fee on fossil fuels, coupled to a refund of those fees back to consumers, will not only encourage the use of clean energy but will also be good for the economy. Carbon pricing is endorsed by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, business leaders like Bill Gates, and by many economists. Our representatives in Congress need to pass a bill that will put a fee on carbon-based fuels and will return the fees collected to the people. Let’s keep the fossil fuels in the ground and spend our money on electric cars and clean energy.

This story was originally published December 24, 2015 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Roberts letter: Climate change."