CONFRONT COVID-19 AND CLIMATE CHANGE NOW

#COVID-19

Both COVID-19 and climate change are global and involve temperature increases. 

If we wait for a crisis, it will be too late. The “stay in place” crisis response to the increase in COVID cases in March brought about reductions within months. 

The response time for a climate crisis could take a century, which is the lifetime of the greenhouse gas CO ₂ in our atmosphere. A climate crisis could be a 2 to 10-foot rise in sea level, should an Antarctic ice sheet break off.  We need to reduce CO ₂ emissions now or swim later. “A stitch in time saves nine.”  The COVID “stay in place” restriction with reduced travel also lowered greenhouse gas emissions as much as 17%. Wearing masks and physical distancing is critical to saving lives and our economy. 

Government funding to deal with COVID unemployment could reduce climate change. Grants for more energy efficient residences and businesses would create jobs for contractors. Similar funding could expedite the deployment of next generation small modular nuclear reactors. They are safer with half the construction cost. A MIT study showed that a reactor buildup could de-carbonize electricity generation in 30 years. A carbon fee plus dividend could reduce carbon emissions without increasing the US national debt.