Zanowski, Astoria lobby lawmakers at climate conf.

University of Wisconsin-Parkside Director of Student Support Services Chris Zanowski and Assistant Professor of Political Science Ross Astoria put their expertise to work for the public good on Capitol Hill this week. They met with federal legislators while attending the Citizens Climate Lobby 2012 International Conference: The Cure for Climate Trauma.

Zanowski and Astoria joined hundreds of people from across the U.S. and Canada aspart of the Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL), a national nonpartisan, nonprofit group whose purposes is tocreate the political will for a stable climate and empower individuals to exercise their personal and political power regarding climate stability.

Speaking prior to the conference, they said their efforts would be directed at encouraging the government to pass legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

"Already, the American West this year has experienced the most intense forest fire season on record," said Astoria, who is a local CCL leader. "Global warming isn't on its way--it's here." CCL advocates for "fee-and-dividend" legislation to do four things:

• Eliminate all subsidies to the fossil fuel industry
• Place a fee on carbon emissions, starting at $15 and increasing $10 per year for the next ten years
• Return revenues collected from the fee to citizens, and
• Establish border adjustments to protect American industry and manufacturing against competition from jurisdictions.

"This is simple and effective legislation," said Zanowski. "It requires a minimum of bureaucracy and incentivizes the private sector to invest in low-carbon technologies. Because the revenues are returned to households, citizens will directly experience the benefits of reducing carbon emissions."

The conference was held Sunday, July 22, to Tuesday, July 24, in Washington, D.C.

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ABOUT THIS STORY:

Story Status: Archived
Publish date: 7/26/2012

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