Special interest, conspiracy, fraud, hypocrite, elite. Those words trigger people to react in different ways depending on individual values and cultural identity. There is only so much information anyone’s mind can process; therefore, people take mental shortcuts in this information-crazy world.

It pays to step back and treat some information differently. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released a report that reiterated the dire consequences of climate change and, importantly, shortened the timeline for action to 12 years.

The issue is complex, but the solution exists. The same day the report was released, William Nordhaus won the Nobel Prize in economics for his work on carbon taxation as a tool to mitigate climate change. There are many carbon tax models to choose from. All are market driven. All promote innovation and economic growth. Some eliminate industry regulations; some put money in people’s pockets; some finance infrastructure projects; some compensate people most impacted in a changing climate or buffer people from economic changes. All models price fossil fuels higher to lower emissions.

Economic growth is hampered by climate change. Just look at the costs of recent severe weather events.

It is natural to despair or tune out information that is overwhelming. What kind of future will we have? What about our children and grandchildren?

There is a solution. Members of Congress must take action to protect this country’s future. That action is a national carbon tax.

Roberta Brezinski, Durham