Dear Editor

I wrote this letter to the editor in response to a recent Burlington Free Press article. Who knows if it will get published but even if it doesn't I wanted to share it here. 

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The March 25th article "Climate Report Warns Warming Actually is Hurting Humans" provides the evidence to support what many people already suspect: climate change is not just a problem for polar bears. 

Climate change is already causing extreme weather including severe droughts, heat waves, and superstorms, and yes, even the "Arctic bombs" we have experienced this winter. These events are putting pressure on human systems like agriculture and public health. Vermont farmers have firsthand experienced dealing with more frequent floods, invasive pests, and intense rains (source).

We need to do more to adapt to extreme weather and we need to demand that our politicians find innovative ways to quickly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend is a sound way to put a price on carbon dioxide, the most abundant man-made greenhouse gas, and help us transition away from fossil fuels to a clean, renewable energy economy. Our future depends on it.

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Climate change is such an important issue and it desperately needs to be addressed. We, as ordinary people, need to make some noise. Consider finding your own way to speak out.