CITIZEN’S CLIMATE LOBBY (11/8/2014)

Did you know that a man living in the heart of Midtown is actually helping the next generation breathe easier?
 

Midtown resident Steve Valk is the Director of Communications for the Citizens Climate Lobby.The group is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change.

"Most people who are concerned about climate change are in a state of despair and very cynical about our government's ability to solve the problem,” said Steve. “We give them the good news that there's a way to move our government to talk action. In short, Congress still responds to the will of the people, provided the people tell them what they want. And what we want is a livable world.”

Quite simply, the CCL trains and supports volunteers to engage elected officials, the media and the public about climate change issues. Locals are invited to participate in several ways.“We have lots of Atlantans involved.

The Citizen’s Climate Lobby meets on the first Saturday of each month at Illuminarium, an office just off the Beltline near the Carter Center.

"We take actions by writing to members of Congress, organizing meetings with congressional offices -- and listen to a monthly national call that connects all our chapters across the country.”

On June 9, 2014, Citizens’ Climate Lobby released a study from Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI) that examined the impact of a steadily-rising fee on carbon-based fuels with revenue from that fee returned to households in equal shares.

With the fee starting at $10 per ton of carbon dioxide and rising$10 per ton each year.The major findings were that in 20 years; CO2 emissions could be reduced 50 percent below 1990 levels.

Because of the economic stimulus of recycling carbon fee revenue back to households, a predicted 2.8million jobs could be added to the American economy.

Most importantly---Improved air quality could result in the avoidance of 230,000 premature deaths.

“I think our actions will be remembered. We're talking about saving the world,” says Valk. “People remember stuff like that. People write books and make films about it.”

Everyone in the city is invited to attend the meetings of the Citizen’s Climate Lobby. To get more details, email steve.valk@citizensclimatelobby.org .

-- -Ray Macon