As a doctor, I’ve learned that good medical care means delivering the right treatment at the right time. Whether treating a stroke, suturing a wound or delivering a baby, physicians can’t do a good job unless we take timely action.

So how are humans doing as caretakers of our planet?

Scientists have been noticing the negative impacts humanity has created for the planet since well before the birth of Christ. The earliest recorded negative impact was recorded by the Greeks; they noticed that clearcutting forests changed the rainfall in the area.

Scientists have known since the 1950s that the industrial revolution was impacting the Earth’s atmosphere. In the late 1980s, the possibility that carbon could have major negative impacts on the Earth’s climate became increasingly clear. By 2021, 99.9 percent of published peer reviewed papers agreed that humans are altering the climate.

Nevadans know this. We're too hot, we can't breathe and we're running out of water.                 

So here we are. Planet Earth has been having symptoms brought on by the burning of fossil fuels for over 100 years. The cause of the illness has been determined; the treatment plan is clear; we must reduce carbon in the Earth’s atmosphere. The treatment has been started; around the globe cities, states and countries are moving away from using dirty polluting energy sources. The possibility of a healthy future with plenty of clean energy is a reality; we know we can reach the goal. The question is, will we reach it soon enough?

The last Congress passed several important measures to meaningfully reduce the use of dirty fossil fuels, incentivize clean energy development and speed development of new technologies to combat climate change. But it is not enough. 

Power plants are the largest stationary polluter of dirty carbon into our atmosphere. In 2021 they were responsible for emitting 25 percent of all the USA carbon pollution. This is why news that the EPA is proposing Clean Air Act emission limits on power plants is so exciting. The proposed emission limits set guidelines for carbon dioxide pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants based on cost-effective and available technologies such as carbon capture, carbon storage and green hydrogen. It’s one more step we can take that will help us reach the goal the U.S. has set of 100 percent carbon-pollution free electricity by 2035, a pace that experts say is needed to avoid disastrous climate change impacts.

You might ask the doctor what other treatment options should we consider? 

One of the most effective additions would be to put a price on carbon, paired with cashback dividends to Americans. Canada has put a carbon cash back dividend in place. Canadians are enjoying the results of their carbon fee and dividend plans. The average Canadian is receiving almost $300 a year in carbon cashback dividends and breathing cleaner air. America should follow their lead.

The earth’s prognosis depends on the willingness of humans to rapidly transition away from using dirty, unhealthy fossil fuels to using clean energy sources, which are abundant in Nevada. 

Dr. Sandra Koch is an OB/GYN who has been practicing in Carson City since 1990.