Editor,

Thank you for your recent shout-out regarding Initiative 1631 and efforts by the Whidbey chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby to pass it (Sept. 21 Whidbey News-Times, “Climate lobby makes strong case …”).

Five remarkable events have taken place since this article ran, underscoring the urgency of passing I-1631.

First, the latest science on climate change was released, showing that our efforts to date remain far from sufficient, but that horror-movie effects from 2-degrees of planetary warming, including the disappearance of most coral reefs worldwide and unprecedented human migrations out of tropical areas, can still be prevented.

Second, the Nobel Prize was awarded to two economists who showed through decades of meticulous work that carbon pricing is the most efficient solution to climate change, and that government policy can drive innovation and lead to economic growth that would not otherwise occur.

Both prize winners emphasized that so-called “free” markets are imperfect and that government intervention can improve outcomes for people.

Also remarkable was Shell Oil’s announcement that it is refusing to contribute to the No On 1631 campaign, breaking from the Western States Petroleum Association, which is the major donor to the No campaign.

Later in the week ExxonMobil pledged $1 million to an effort to enact a national carbon tax, representing the first time in history that a major oil company has put money behind efforts to raise the price of its own product through carbon fees.

Finally, Bill Gates took a rare political stance and endorsed Initiative 1631, writing on LinkedIn that climate change represents the “toughest problem humanity has ever faced.” Gates understands that we need to drive net fossil fuel emissions to zero, and despite early skepticism about the initiative, wrote that I-1631 will help do that while innovating our economy.

Everything we know says that we urgently have to change how we create energy, a challenge that the science report acknowledges has “no documented historic precedent.” That doesn’t mean we can’t do it, just that we have to try new approaches. Washington voters have exactly this opportunity.

Please do what even the oil companies are starting to acknowledge is needed: put a price on carbon. Vote “yes” on I-1631.

Bob Hallahan, U.S. Navy, Retired

Group Leader, Whidbey Chapter, Citizens’ Climate Lobby