This year, for the first time in three million years, the average daily concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere reached 400 parts per million. Before the industrial age, this concentration varied from 180 to 300 parts per million. In the past century, average global temperature has increased by 1.4 degrees Farenheit. It is estimated that by the end of this century, at current rates of carbon emissions, that average could increase by yet another 7 degrees. If this occurs, sea levels will continue to rise, there will be more drought, volatile weather patterns and damage from ever more powerful storms. The nations of the world must act quickly.

But, you may ask, where is the political will for this? It is in us. It is in you and in me. Elected officials, it is said, do not create political will, they respond to it. Citizens Climate Lobby is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with chapters across the United States and Canada. Its mission is to create the political will to pass federal legislation that will result in reduced greenhouse gases and begin moving the nation away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy.

A Buffalo chapter of CCL is now forming. To find out more, go on line to citizensclimatelobby.org. There you can read about CCL’s legislative proposal for a revenue-neutral carbon tax that returns proceeds to American households. You can also register to join the weekly introductory conference call, which is held at 8 p.m. Eastern each Wednesday.

This is the time. Save the Earth. We can do it.

- Ron Scott, Tonawanda

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