READER'S EDITORIAL: ACTION NEEDED TO CUT CARBON USE, ADDRESS WILDFIRES FUELED BY CLIMATE CHANGE

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By Susan Tamura, San Diego
 
September 15, 2020 (San Diego) -- With California wildfires in the forefront, it is readily apparent that climate scientists' predictions of drier conditions in the West are coming to pass.  Wildfires and their smoke are not new to us; it's their ever-increasing magnitude that will test our resilience.

Disinformation and denial are being overcome by current events. The fires, exacerbated by decades of greenhouse gas pollution, are leaving their indelible mark. There is time, ever shortening, to mitigate the effects of climate change. 

 
Several bills introduced in Congress price carbon, a powerful solution driven by the U.S. economy that would jump-start our nation's transition to carbon-free energy.  Among them is a revenue neutral option: H.R. 763 prices carbon and returns the proceeds to the American people in a dividend. Now is the time to advocate for solutions that address the damage caused by a warming world.
 
The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

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Comments

What about Forest management?

Submitted by on

Reducing carbon footprint is a good thing, but what about forest management? Vegetation density has increased over the years. The number of trees per acre has increased over that last hundred years since the USFS has managed the forest. Trees have to compete for the water leading to lots of dead trees and insects. Dead trees add to the already dense kindling and make these forest fires massive. More controlled burns and thinning are needed.

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