All I want for Christmas is a stronger, cleaner planet | The Times-Picayune
Work is nearly complete on a $28 million project to restore more than 600 acres of marsh near the mouth of Bayou Bonfouca south of Slidell, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority reported Nov. 8, 2017. (Patrick Quigley photo)
Yes, even members of the commentariat get to have Christmas wish lists. Here’s mine:
That GOP politicians take the next step on global warming — They started out calling it a hoax, moved to claiming it’s happening but isn’t caused by man — and now most say, “OK, man is involved, just not a major factor.” But Louisiana’s own scientists say reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the key to saving most of the state south of U.S. 90 from sea level rise over the next 60 years. So, the fate of future generations depends on the GOP taking that next step — and soon.
The United States rejoins the Paris climate accords — Most climate models show south Louisiana will be swallowed by the Gulf of Mexico before 2100 unless the world is on the path to dramatically reduce emissions in the next 10 to 20 years. The Paris agreement is our only hope – and many climatologists consider that a long shot. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from that effort hasn’t hurt yet because the United States has been in an emissions reductions episode from the switch to natural gas, better car fuel economy and growth in solar and wind power. But that edge is expected to end sometime next year, and the experts say the world will be hard put to reach the Paris goals without the cooperation of the world’s largest per-capita carbon emitter — the United States. In other words — the future of south Louisiana depends on this.
A tax on carbon emissions — Many experts believe the only way to reach those Paris goals is to have a carbon tax. It would encourage the development and marketing of low-emissions products including everything from cars to lawn mowers.
Read the rest of the wish list in The Times Picayune.
