To the editor:

Our Nov. 8 ballots will include I-732, an initiative to tax carbon emissions responsible for climate change, with proceeds committed to reducing sales taxes.

Big Coal and other major carbon emitters will pay increasing fees for damage to climate and health, while “renewables” — wind, solar, and so on — get a competitive market advantage with minimum bureaucratic intrusion, with reduced sales taxes compensate for increased carbon taxes.

British Columbia, Oregon and California all have similar legislation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. All report significant reductions. National cap-and-trade schemes have worked well to reduce sulfur emissions and acid rain.

I-732 is not perfect. Some of the prospective income will be diverted to reducing state B&O taxes and to supplement the Federal Earned Income Tax credit. Both are worthy.

But the central goal of I-732 is to reduce the much higher costs of global warming we are passing on to our grandchildren.

Let’s get started on this important task. Please vote “Yes” on I-732.

HALSTEAD HARRISON

Bainbridge Island