Commentary: Newport Beach should respond, not just adapt, to climate change

Last week, the Newport City Council discussed changes to the seawalls, which are old, and rising sea levels will top them in some places. The city’s engineering summary was professional and complete.

No one on the council, and no one during public comments, argued against the need for changes. Newport Beach is dealing with climate change through adaptation.

Adaptation is important and necessary, but unless something is done to mitigate climate change — the phenomenon behind our rising seas — the problem will be revisited somewhere down the road.

It may seem illogical to imagine that a city can address a global problem like climate change, but it’s not. Every city can and should be working to mitigate the problem, especially an influential city like Newport Beach. The global answer to climate change begins in the United States. Despite some mistakes, it is still recognized as the world leader.

Congress, which holds the key to addressing climate change, needs to pass legislation to reduce our emissions rapidly and in a way that gets other countries to follow our lead. The U.S. can be off fossil fuels in 20 years, with current technology, while at the same time adding to the job rolls and boosting our gross national product.

As America greens, our air and water will become cleaner, personal health will improve, and lives will be saved. All this can be accomplished while reducing emissions by 50% in 20 years.

What about the cost? Actually, there is none. A policy known as carbon fee and dividend, backed by former Secretary of State George Shultz, would impose a fee on carbon emissions and return the fee to households. Most consumers would get back more than they would pay for increased energy costs. It would create a stimulus that would add 2.8 million jobs over 20 years, according to a study from Regional Economic Models Inc.

I just returned from Washington, D.C., where I lobbied – along with 905 other volunteers — for the carbon fee and dividend proposal. We met with 506 Members of Congress and their staffs.

If Newport Beach looks beyond its immediate problem and examines what is happening globally, it could add its voice to the discussion in Washington.

I have done some polling in the bluff neighborhoods, gone door to door and talked to over 200 residents. A clear majority understand climate change is happening and we should address it. Congress doesn’t create political will. It responds to it. We need to take part for the sake of our kids and kids around the world.

Mark Tabbert

Newport Beach