Ned Rozell described the record-setting trends of high temperatures and low sea ice in the Arctic in his article, “This year’s Arctic report tells an ongoing story of change in the north.” High temperatures from anthropogenic greenhouse gases are melting sea ice, but there is also a feedback loop whereby as reflective ice melts, the darker ocean absorbs more solar energy, which speeds up the cycle of melting ice and warming water. This is one of several climate feedback loops which can amplify the others to create an even bigger feedback loop.
For example, loss of sea ice, melting permafrost, and boreal forest fires are all interconnected feedback loops in the Arctic.The risk of business as usual is that we could trigger runway global warming by setting off an irreversible global cascade of feedback loops. If we reduce our emissions, we lessen the impacts of global warming, which we already feel here in Alaska, and reduce the risk of tipping over the global warming dominos.
A price on carbon refunded equitably as a dividend, like a national Permanent Fund dividend, is the best place to start. The fee would reduce emissions while the dividend would more than make up for increased energy costs, providing most Americans with a net boost in income.
— Darren Zal
Anchorage
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