James Hansen - Student Leadership on Climate Solutions

31 July 2020 James Hansen

A stunning and heartening message appeared in my e-mails this week, which I share in hopes that it will encourage you as much as it did me.  Look at this (https://www.s4cd.org/statement) and scroll down to see our impressive future leaders.  The e-mail, from Alex Posner, founder of the group, Students for Carbon Dividends (S4CD) included: Today, after months of organizing, the student climate group I lead (Students for Carbon Dividends) has unveiled the "Students Government Leaders' Statement on Carbon Dividends," the largest declaration of student body presidents in US history. The bipartisan statement, which is inspired by last year's Economists' Statement on Carbon Dividends, includes 350+ college student government presidents from all 50 states. Collectively, the signers represent over 4 million students from campuses across the country--ranging from Stanford and MIT to Mississippi State and the University of Michigan…. We must help the United States Congress to recognize the wisdom these young people express.  Politicians must resist the temptations of a new revenue source.  The public will allow the carbon fee to rise to a level that moves us to clean energies only if the money goes directly to the public. This approach is optimum for social justice.  Low-income and most middle-income people make money with Fee & Dividend; wealthy people lose because of their large carbon footprint. Economic studies show that putting 100 percent of the funds immediately into the hands of the public spurs the economy, creates millions of jobs, increases GNP and government revenue – just what is needed to provide a basis for progressive policies. The students are following the science!  The science – climate, energy, economics – is clear.  The fastest route to a global solution is a simple, honest, domestic carbon fee with border duties on products from countries without an equivalent fee. You can help young people and other life on Earth best by supporting Citizens Climate Lobby. You can sign up for our monthly global temperature updates here. You can sign up for my other Communications here. I opened a Twitter account @DrJamesEHansen, (https://twitter.com/drjamesehansen), but I am focusing mainly on finishing Sophie’s Planet.