BETHEL — Our speakers at this week’s meeting were Peter Garrett and Bill Fergusson, members of the Maine Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL), and fellow Rotarians. The nationwide CCL was originally established by San Diego Rotarian Marshall Saunders.

Bill first described a means promoted by CCL to address climate change through a carbon tax on carbon dioxide emitters, the proceeds of which go back to individual taxpayers through monthly carbon dividends – an approach championed in the past by Reagan administration members George Schultz and James Baker.

Peter then did a presentation on the issue in the context of the Rotary 4-Way Test. The first two questions – Is climate change the truth? and Is it fair to all concerned? are answered “yes” and “no,” respectively, he said. Rising oceans and more severe storms are some of the “unfair” impacts on world populations. Resolve it, and positive answers to the last two test questions will follow.

He followed with descriptions of innovative ways to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, among them, the production of concrete by incorporating CO2 into the material, cultivation of ocean kelp to use CO2, and fertilization of oceans with iron to aid in phytoplankton growth.

Financing such projects might come in part from insurance companies, which stand to otherwise lose through climate change damages.
He also described efforts to pass climate change legislation in Congress, such as the Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act, so far unsuccessful.

Peter encouraged anyone interested in helping with efforts to curb climate change to write to congressmen. To learn more about the CCL, go to cclusa.org.

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