Last Friday, 13 federal agencies issued the Fourth National Climate Assessment, which states that climate change is affecting Maine’s forests, fisheries, farms, tourism and ecosystems- marine and land-based. It is already costing us in damage to property, infrastructure, health, crops, and  fisheries.  If we do not significantly lower global carbon dioxide pollution (stop burning fossil fuels) quickly, global warming will change life the way we live it and will cost the American economy as much as 10 percent of GDP by 2100.

Two takeaways from both this report and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report (United Nations) issued in October is that transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources will reduce the risks of climate impacts and the best first step would be to put a price on carbon pollution.

Members of the Trump Administration chose to release the report on Black Friday because cynically they thought the American public would be busy shopping; would not pay attention; and would continue to let them roll back environmental protections.

It is our responsibility as citizens of a democracy to be vigilant.  If you care about the state of the planet that you will leave to generations that follow, call your members of Congress — Sen. Susan Collins, Sen. Angus King, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree — and tell them to put a price on carbon dioxide pollution.

Dodie Jones,

Brunswick