By State Representative Jasmine Clark (D-Lilburn)
(542 words)
Climate change remains an existential threat to our planet, and failure to address it will have devastating consequences. As a legislator for our great state, I recognize that Georgia has a part to play in navigating our country through the climate crisis and that all states need Congress to move us forward together. A robust national strategy with smart and clear climate policy from Washington, D.C. will energize Georgia’s own efforts.
Right now, the 16 members of Georgia’s congressional delegation are helping build the national budget. For the first time in 10 years, we have an opportunity to enact meaningful climate solutions. I urge our national delegation to be bold and take it. It is time to unleash U.S. innovation and send a strong message that we are serious about solving climate change. While we work on climate solutions here in Georgia, I ask our federal leaders to take bold steps to support a transition to clean energy through national policy.
Being good to the environment is good for the economy and people. Economists and scientists agree that an economy-wide carbon fee is a crucial component of any serious plan to transition to clean energy. Right now, profits from pollution only benefit a few key players, while everyone pays their high costs. We all pay when we experience stronger hurricanes, mega-droughts, massive floods, crop failures and record-shattering temperatures and fires. A carbon price that starts low and rises steadily can incentivize clean energy and start bending the curve down without shocking the economy. Concerns about the cost being passed down to the consumer can be addressed by using the money collected to provide a “rebate” to households, offsetting the transition costs and protecting lower-income families. Including a carbon border adjustment, which would create fees on imports and exports based on their carbon emissions, would also protect U.S. businesses from competitors that use dated and/or dirty practices. By implementing these effective policies as soon as possible we can have a livable planet and strong economy.
Georgia can do well by doing good. We are well-positioned to tackle climate change with our natural and human resources. Solar energy does not have to come from outside Georgia like coal or gas; it’s right here. Some of our sharpest academic minds from the Drawdown Georgia Project already have a roadmap for specific solutions that would put us ahead of many states. Clean energy industries are growing too. Hanwha Q Cells in Dalton is the largest solar factory in the Western Hemisphere. Blue Bird in Fort Valley makes electric school buses. Soon, we will have the SK Innovation factory making batteries for electric cars in Commerce. These are just a few examples of good things happening here in Georgia. And, while these things are great contributors to our fight against climate change, a carbon price would turbocharge this type of economic growth and innovation.
As a state representative, it is my job, along with my colleagues’, to do good things for the people of Georgia. I am eager to collaborate to solve climate change by supporting innovation from our universities and technology, as well as ideas from our business sector. In addition, I urge all members of our state’s congressional delegation to support an economy-wide carbon price.
Representative Jasmine Clark represents the citizens of District 108, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Higher Education, Banks & Banking and Interstate Cooperation committees.
###