Last April was a watershed moment for the climate movement.

On the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day, environmental activists were suddenly forced to adapt to the limitations of COVID-19. Despite the challenges of navigating such uncharted territory, we prevailed; not only has the environmental movement continued to thrive in the virtual world, but also climate change is now at the center of the national conversation, including in Washington, D.C.

This year’s Earth Day was proof of that achievement. Globally, President Biden successfully convened world leaders for a candid conversation on the steps needed to address the climate challenge. And, here in Maine, Colby’s own student groups led the way on the digital front with a vast array of virtual events that allowed activist’s voices to reach across the country

As the school year has now ended and we carry this momentum into the summer, one of our foremost responsibilities is to decide how to capitalize on the current political window to drive ambitious climate action. In today’s political environment, getting legislation across the finish line is no small feat and will require a concrete and viable strategy. Fortunately, the Earth Day Environmental Activism Panel hosted by Colby’s Environmental Coalition seemed to offer a compelling solution.

Following an introduction to the climate issue by Dr. Sean Birkel — professor at UMaine and the Maine State Climatologist — panelist Alex Posner spoke about the organization he leads: Students for Carbon Dividends. True to its name, S4CD is a student-driven coalition of hundreds of college groups and thousands of individual activists across the country.

Not surprisingly, they advocate for the nationwide implementation of a carbon dividends plan based off of the Baker-Shultz legislative framework. More surprising, however, is the diversity of their coalition; on top of traditional environmentalists, it has united an almost equal number of conservative groups as liberal ones — a rarity for any modern political movement.

The third and final speaker was the incredibly accomplished state Sen. Chloe Maxmin. A true leader and huge advocate for the environment, Sen. Maxmin proved in November that climate can be a winning issue in rural communities when she was elected the first Democrat to ever represent District 13 — all the while becoming the youngest female state senator in Maine history. As a co-founder of Divest Harvard while at the university, she is now on the Maine Climate Council and has championed many important environmental initiatives.

After hearing from Alex on the merits of carbon dividends and then the follow-up from Sen. Maxmin as an actual politician trying to get climate legislation passed, I believe the most logical step forward to be the carbon dividends framework that Alex outlined.

Sen. Maxmin made one of the most important points of the whole event: In order for people to buy into climate policy, the argument cannot be centered on distant, removed concepts like GDP — it must be made personal. In this spirit, by returning the funds from the carbon price directly back to the American people, the carbon dividends plan would put money in the pockets of everyday Americans. And, even accounting for changes in energy prices, it would ensure the overwhelming majority of families come out financially ahead.

Environmentally, by 2035 the plan would cut U.S. carbon emissions by 57%. As someone frightened by the climate change crisis and frustrated with the lack of political action, I completely understand the fear that this plan is still not enough. Without a doubt, it cannot be the only component of a national climate strategy. That being said, a carbon price would deliver far greater emissions reductions than any single other policy mechanism being considered and also position us to exceed the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Yes, in my ideal world, the U.S would enact the full-fledged Green New Deal — something that would force the U.S to conform to the target of 100% clean, renewable energy by 2030. The Green New Deal is at the very top of my list of dream policies as a passionate progressive. In fact, when I first learned about Students for Carbon Dividends, its pride on being such a bipartisan movement concerned me as I sometimes cannot see beyond my liberal bubble. Yet as I listened to Alex and Chloe describe the intricacies of enacting environmental change through the political process, I’ve come to recognize that carbon dividends is a necessary first step.

The environment doesn’t have time for partisan legislation to come to fruition. Given the incredibly polarized nature of U.S. politics right now, something as progressive as the Green New Deal cannot be the only approach on the table when similarly powerful environmental plans that do have the support of both sides could be enacted.

The only way to create a comprehensive solution for climate change is to act now, and carbon dividends covers all the bases of enacting significant environmental change, benefiting Americans economically, and being a politically viable, bipartisan path forward.

Caitlin Bracken is treasurer of Colby’s Environmental Coalition. 

Copy the Story Link