Thread by @ClimateHuman

The House just introduced a bipartisan carbon fee & dividend bill, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.

This is a watershed moment for climate action. The tides are turning. #ClimateHope

Sponsors: @RepTedDeutch @RepRooney @CharlieCrist @RepBrianFitz @RepJohnDelaney

It starts at $15/tonne and increases $10/year. Over next 10 years it will:
+ reduce CO2 emission by 33%
+ create 2 million new jobs
+ improve air quality and health.
energyinnovationact.org

It’s revenue neutral, so it would financially benefit most Americans. Annual dividend for a family of 4 will start at $3,500, paid monthly. It’s not a carbon tax, since revenue is redistributed. This makes it politically sustainable. (A tax would be punitively regressive.)

Yes, it's the lame duck session. No one expects it to pass right away. But it will be reintroduced. It's a line in the sand, a piece of actual climate legislation that could actually pass and actually help.

After battling hard for 12 years this feels utterly remarkable to me.

It’s not perfect. It replaces direct regulations on CO2. And I’d prefer it start higher; this is the 11th hour after all. But it’s MUCH better than what we have now, which is nothing.

It’s a start - and we desperately need a start. And we need it NOW. And it will show leadership to the world.

I hope Green groups and radical climate hawks have the wisdom to support it. 🤞

It’s a start. The best realistic next (first?) step we can take. #ClimateHope

It could (and should) become a pillar of a Green New Deal, which I strongly support.

Build Green Bridges! Greens Unite! @citizensclimate @Ocasio2018 @SenSanders @NancyPelosi