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Recently Mike Race submitted a letter that appeared in the Juneau Empire in which he conveyed concern about the effect climate change legislation might have on low-income families. He also called for the legislation to be defeated. Race specifically took issue with the "cap and trade" proposals floating around Congress that would limit carbon proliferation.

Race is right to voice concern about possible negative financial effects on those least able to pay for energy if Congress acts recklessly. At the same time, it is obvious that our nation needs to act responsibly to address the effects of warming on our climate.

Global warming is real and presents a genuine threat to America's security and economic future. The effects of warming and climate change already are obvious in many parts of the globe, including Alaska. Reduced ice in the Arctic, diminishing permafrost, changes in animal and plant life and the need to relocate northern villages all indicate the impact of climate change and underscore the need to act.

In large part, the significant increase in carbon proliferation in the past 100 years is a result of human activities. Human use of carbon-related fuels results in emissions of greenhouse gases and their attendant planetary warming.

Some observers persist in denying the obvious with claims that warming and climate change are a myth. Common sense suggests that a world with nearly seven billion humans, many using high levels of carbon-based fuels, will begin to overload the capacity of the planet to absorb carbon. Indeed, carbon proliferation is increasingly a problem and most credible scientific organizations now call for reduced carbon emissions.

I'd like to think that Mike Race and I agree that our nation, state and community should be in the vanguard of cutting carbon emissions. The real issue, and one worthy of debate, is how do we reach this laudable goal?

In the near future, our nation must begin to cut back carbon emissions. We can do that by taxing carbon use or enacting a fair and balanced market-based program that calls for an eventual reduction in carbon emissions - the so-called "cap and trade" system. A progressive carbon tax is probably not achievable because of political constraints. The current "cap and trade" legislation can and will be improved, including provisions that address Race's concerns.

It is essential that America enacts a comprehensive energy bill that includes strong provisions addressing climate change. We need a balanced set of laws to encourage energy efficiency, promote aggressive use of alternative clean energy and reduce our nation's crippling dependency on foreign energy. At the same time, we need to ensure that low-income Americans have adequate power for basic living.

In Alaska, we are blessed with significant energy resources. Juneau has commenced taking appropriate steps to improve energy efficiency. The significant hydro resources of our region are a fantastic source of clean renewable energy that must be developed. Our state will continue to contribute essential oil and gas resources while emerging renewable energy technology comes online.

We need to make progress on a broad energy front and in a way that avoids placing hardship on those least able to pay. At the same time, we dare not fail to act. If our nation fails to adopt responsible measures dealing with our massive energy use and consequent carbon emissions, the poor will suffer first.

• Joe Geldhof is an attorney living in Juneau.