Local students to speak for comprehensive climate change legislation in D.C.

To the Editor;
A party of 33 from Maine, including 12 students, ages 9-21 from the Portland area, Dover-Foxcroft, Waldoboro and Farmington, will meet with elected officials on Capitol Hill regarding climate change legislation. The students will participate in trainings on Nov. 11 in preparation for the Nov. 12 meetings with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden and members of U.S. Sen. Angus King’s staff. U.S. Sen. King has also invited the students to join him the following morning for blueberry muffins.

The students share a passion for spending time outdoors in the New England landscape, as well as fear for the future. Said one of the students, Danielle, “I’ve always been passionate about organizations that allow the youth –- the people who will be experiencing the issues – to take charge and take the initiative, so when I heard that Citizens’ (Climate Lobby) was taking young people … I knew that I wanted to do it.” All the students feel the need to impress upon others the necessity for immediate federal action. “Climate justice is one of the most important of our lifetime,” said Grace, and Congress has “not done nearly enough … CCL, being non-partisan, has taken up the job of making sure something gets done.”

Citizens’ Climate Lobby is advocating for carbon fee and dividend, specifically the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, which puts a fee on fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. It starts low and grows over time. It will drive down carbon pollution because energy companies, industries and consumers will move toward cleaner, cheaper options. The money collected from the carbon fee will be distributed monthly to every adult in equal shares with half shares for kids, to spend as they see fit. For more information, please visit https://citizensclimatelobby.org/energy-innovation-and-carbon-dividend-act/.

Laurie Sproul
Dover Citizens’ Climate Lobby co-leader
Brownville