We’re All in This Together
Our Part in Preventing Catastrophic Change from Climate Chaos
By Justin Beth
The data is irrefutable. We are experiencing changes in climate that not only threaten the lives of future generations, but also life in all forms on our planet. Let’s not debate if climate change is happening, because we all know it’s true. We each have our own data on this. Instead, let’s talk about what each of us can do to protect people and our planet from this threat.
My work to prevent climate chaos…
As a member of the Maine Green Independent Party, I’ve personally pursued efforts to elect individuals that put people, planet, and peace first in their decision-making. The Green Party has been on the forefront of ideas that would save us from disaster. Ever hear of a Green New Deal? It was first developed as political policy by the Green Party in 2010… long before Bernie Sanders popularized this idea in 2016. The majority of people now agree: a Green New Deal that creates thousands of good jobs around the country and gets us off fossil fuel dependency is critical to our future.
Similarly, in August of 2010, the Green Party developed a political policy to enact a carbon tax and individual dividend. This may be the only way to avert the catastrophic changes that climate chaos is bringing. This policy would hold corporations accountable for the hidden costs of climate change that they are responsible for, while guaranteeing ordinary people are given dividends to ensure they do not suffer from the price gouging that these companies will certainly participate in.
Even though we haven’t been successful in electing Greens to pass this important legislation, we luckily have groups like the Citizens Climate Lobby that are helping to get the Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act passed through congress.
What can you do?
So what can each of us do? On top of being mindful of your own energy use, join those of us trying to enact these policies… whether that’s running as a candidate that will fight for this legislation or by letting our current officeholders know that we will not accept their refusal to act. We are out of time for inaction.
Justin Beth lives in Portland and is a volunteer with the Maine Green Independent Party. Beth serves as a member of the State Committee and is chairperson of the Maine Greens Electoral Committee and the Portland Green Independent Committee.
We’re All in this Together is a monthly Climate Justice column provided by the Portland chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
