FARGO -- A new craze, "going green," is sweeping the nation. Citizens are finally becoming aware of the environmental and human impacts of climate change. The world faces devastating impacts such as rising sea levels causing cities to go underwater. Warmer ocean waters already are creating an increase in violent storms. In North Dakota, drought and disruptive weather patterns threaten to devastate agriculture.
And although "greening our lives" is a great start to mitigating climate change, it won't be enough unless we make broader changes to the systems we live within. Think about this: You can turn off the lights when you leave the room, thus saving some energy. However, when those lights are on, they're powered primarily by coal, the most environmentally unfriendly energy source.
Only the federal government has the power to make the structural changes we need to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Capping global warming pollution emissions based on scientific findings is a logical first step. Investment and incentives for clean energy would not only fight global warming, but also would be great for North Dakota's economy.
The government should cut all subsidies and tax breaks for dirty fuel industries. A ban on new coal-fired power plants also is vital to curb climate change.
Citizens are working hard in their own lives to recycle, drive less and conserve more. It is high time that Congress followed suit and passed meaningful legislation protecting our country from the enormous impacts of climate change.
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Pete Williams
Williams, a Minot native, works in the Fargo office of 1Sky, a national collaborative movement pushing for federal solutions to the climate crisis.
