Letter to the Editor: Climate Action

Columbia Gorge News, Oct. 5, 2022

Raz Mason is a former middle school science teacher who is currently our Democratic (and Independent Party) candidate for the Oregon Senate. She has been working to address and mitigate the effects of climate change for years.

In addition to teaching, Raz served as Co-founder and Executive Director of CO2 Foundation, a climate change education organization. She knows that in order to address climate change, we need robust action on multiple levels, not only to reduce carbon emissions but also to enhance the ability of our natural carbon sinks–soil and forests–to remove and sequester it. Raz has ideas on ways we can get these things done, including incentives for energy efficiency, making the transition to electric vehicles, promoting sustainable agricultural and timber practices, and developing resources to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather and drought.

This is good news because a climate-forward transition, if sustained, can bring long-term economic benefits to everyone, an outcome that cannot be achieved through continued reliance on fossil fuels. As the climate gets better (and more predictable!), so will the economy. This is the kind of vision we need in Salem. Please join me in voting for Raz Mason for state senate.

Jana Castanares

Parkdale