“Why bother?  We don’t need to worry about it until China and India fix their problems!” was the final retort in a recent conversation about pollution and energy use.  Hmm…seems a bit like peeing in the swimming pool because you suspect that the other kids are doing it too. “Come on in; the water’s …well actually pretty yucky.  We all keep peeing in it.”

       There’s no denying that China and India have pollution problems.  They are by far the most populous countries in the world, each with about 18% of the Earth’s population (36% combined).  With all those people, there are of course, huge challenges.  But they’re not doing nothin’ about it.

       China – An article in this month’s Forbes magazine reports that China is “the world’s largest producer, exporter and installer of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and electric vehicles,” and is best poised to “become the world’s renewable energy superpower.”  Not too shabby!

       India – The 2018 BloombergNEF Climatescope report compared 103 countries using over 80 criteria concerning clean energy policies, emissions and installations.  Guess which county ranked 2nd best right behind Chile?  (Chile?! Who would have guessed?) That’s right; 2nd place goes to India!  While India is still heavily dependent upon coal, in 2017 new Indian renewable energy installations surpassed new coal power plants for the first time.

       And what about other pollution?  Consider plastics; our world is awash in it.  It’s found in mountain air, whales’ stomachs, our water and food supplies, and even in human breast milk – yikes!  China recently refused to continue assuming the role of dumping grounds for much of the world’s plastic.  We in the U.S. had been shipping most of our to-be-recycled plastic to China hoping/wishing/assuming it would be recycled into other products.  Turns out our practice of shipping to China helped mask the enormous worldwide plastic pollution problem.  In response, China, India and 139 other countries have implemented taxes or partial bans on plastics.  The U.S. has yet to do so – oops!

       We all work hard.  Sometimes it’s easy to think the other guy, especially someone different than us, isn’t carrying his fair share of the load.  But I’m guessing our neighbors across the ocean value clean air and water just as much as we do.  It’s a worthwhile common goal because this is the only swimming hole we’ll ever have.  Here, where we’re all forever… Earthbound.

        Looking for a good investment?  You might want to check out the weight-loss industry. At $70 billion annually, that’s over $200 /year for every man, woman and child in the country!

        We’re surrounded by tempting food options.  It’s easy to over-indulge then hope for a magic bullet that would allow us to eat what we want yet stay trim.  But for most of us there is no simple fix.  Instead, a fundamental shift in our relationship with food and a modification in lifestyle is likely the key.  Perhaps summed up as: Eat Less - Move More.

       And what about energy use?  Yikes! we’re over-eaters here too.  With only 4.4% of the world’s population, Americans consume about 17% of the world’s energy.  Of course, the U.S. is a highly developed, industrialized nation, so we’d expect to use more energy than some.  But we tap into almost 1/5 of the world’s energy supply.  Seems like a lot! 

       Most of this energy is generated from burning fossil fuels causing yet another case of over-indulgence.  The global atmosphere’s “fighting weight” of CO2 has held fairly steady between 180 and 280 parts per million(ppm) for tens of thousands of years.  Oh-oh! We’re currently at 415 ppm and rising.  When we burn fossil fuels, carbon moves from the geosphere (below ground) to the biosphere (above ground).  The long-established carbon cycle critical to Earth’s environment since the dawn of humankind is getting thrown significantly out of whack.

       If only there were a cheap and easy “carbon-removal” magic bullet.  Then we could continue with our current energy use system, and technology would conveniently solve the excess atmospheric CO2 issue.  No such luck.

       Carbon-capture technologies do exist, and they’re an important component for reducing atmospheric carbon.  But what’s really needed is a fundamental shift in our relationship with energy.  Perhaps that could be summed up as: Use Less; Embrace Transition.
 
       Use Less – Each of us can be more mindful about our use of energy and find ways to reduce that use.  Legislation such as the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, H.R. 763 would make doing so easier.

       Embrace Transition – Fortunately, clean renewable energy is now often the low-cost leader.  It’s time to embrace these new options to save money and clean the air.

       There’s no time to lose because this is the only home we’ll ever know.  It’s where we’re forever… Earthbound. 

       Conservative U.S. Representative Les Pascal-D’Lawws and progressive Rep. Polly Tician were determined to move beyond political partisanship.  “It’s time to find common ground and work together,” Polly declared as Les nodded in agreement.

       So they gathered their top advisors.  “Okay folks,” Les began, “our task is to craft a straight-forward, bipartisan plan that will both grow the economy and protect the environment.  We want a bill that will provide multiple benefits for all Americans.”

       The advisors from opposing political parties eyed each other warily then finally began to speak up.  “For starters, we can’t add more burdensome government regulations,” Frieda Marketts insisted.  “And to get buy-in from the public, folks gotta have the chance to save money or even get ahead.”
  
       “Fair enough,” Juan Kleenaire countered.  “Then for better human AND environmental health another result must be improved air quality and climate stabilization.”

       Knute Phuelles burst from his chair.  “I think we can do both!  Listen, today’s energy markets are bristling with new, cleaner energy options.  We should open the door for these clean options to become increasingly competitive.  Along with that we should motivate folks to be thrifty with their energy dollars.  Then we’d have both cleaner air AND job creation.”

        “And we mustn’t forget the little guy!” Avery Pearson quietly added.

       Finally, after weeks of debate the Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act was ready for co-sponsors.  It features:

• A gradually increasing fee on producers of fossil fuels that pollute the air and contribute to climate disruption.
• That revenue would go directly into the pockets of all Americans in the form of monthly dividends totaling about $500 / person the first year.  The economically lowest 2/3 of Americans would come out money ahead even after taking into account any rise in fuel costs resulting from the fee. 
• Transitioning to new energy sources and increased efficiencies would create over 2 million local jobs over 10 years.
• Cleaner air will save hundreds of thousands of lives.
•  We’d benefit from an estimated 40% reduction in carbon emissions the first 12 years.

        The actual H.R. 763 already has 56 bipartisan co-sponsors.  Polly, Les and the other imaginary characters in this tale would cheer!  Learn more about the Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act at energyinnovationact.org.  Urge your Congressperson to do the same.  It’s a path to a cleaner more prosperous future for our only home where we’re forever… Earthbound.