Students for a Carbon Fee & Dividend Rally

Photos: Dan Ryan, Probonophoto.org
Please credit the photographer.

Carbon fees are proposed fees collected for the cost of burning fossil fuels; the dividends are the fees collected (minus administrative costs) and returned to Americans to spend as they wish. Though the plan is controversial, advocates of such a plan say that accounting for the true cost of fossil fuel emissions creates a level-playing field for all sources of energy and informs consumers on purchase decisions.

Students and other speakers, including politicians and school administrators, said a carbon tax is a powerful tool in weaning our economies off fossil energy. As part of their action the group marched to San Mateo's Central Park. Members of the ever-entertaining Stanford band added to enthusiasm for the cause.

Opponents of such a plan argue that the climate crisis cannot be solved within a continuing market economy. They say that carbon fees and dividends are only an attempt to fix a system that allows profit making institutions to pay their way as they continue to pollute the planet.