- News
- August 26, 2009
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Cap and Trade
by Francis ThickeThis letter to the editor was published in the Des Moines Register August 20, 2009.
Senator Johanns’ July 28 guest opinion attacking Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the cap and trade legislation is another attempt to continue the Bush Administration’s do-nothing approach to climate change.
Johanns contends that “for agriculture (cap and trade) could mean a direct hit on our competitiveness with no environmental benefit.” However, ISU meteorologist Elwynn Taylor estimates that the impact of climate change-related weather extremes is costing Iowa farmers an average of 13 bushels per acre of corn yield loss, and he expects the yield loss to increase in coming years.
Johanns opines that it would be unfair for the U. S. to cap carbon dioxide emissions if China and other countries do not. That is, no doubt, how countries supporting the Kyoto Accord felt when the Bush Administration refused to sign on. Moreover, the average person in China consumes just one-tenth the energy consumed by the average American, so it is disingenuous to point fingers at China.
The solution to leveling the world playing field for trade and carbon emissions is to institute carbon tariffs on imports made with dirty energy.
-Francis Thicke, Fairfield
