To the editor:

On Jan. 24, the city council unanimously passed Kol Medina’s resolution calling on the state and federal government to take action on climate change.

Some may be skeptical whether such a “symbolic” move has any impact. But in passing this resolution, Bainbridge has joined with dozens of local and state governments around the country who have endorsed action on climate – from the California State Legislature to the city governments of East Lansing, Michigan; Las Cruces, New Mexico; as well as larger cities like Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, and Portland.

I am a local leader in Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Our strategy is simple: put a price on carbon as a way of pricing in the real cost to future generations of carbon pollution and creating market-based solutions. We in the lobby believe that a revenue-neutral carbon fee, with all proceeds rebated to American families, is the simplest and most effective way of doing this, and the one most likely to win support from Republicans and the American people.

In fact, we’ve already seen the formation of a Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the U.S. House with equal numbers of Republican and Democratic members.

Many Republicans are afraid to speak up on this, but growing grassroots resolutions like this one – as well as increasing evidence from the effects of rising seawater in Norfolk, Virginia, Miami and other cities – will encourage some to speak up.

Thank you to the council for your support.

MIKE KELLY

Bainbridge Island