Global Warming News

These impacts are global -- average temperatures globally have increased by more than 1.4 degrees in the past century -- and local -- Lake Michigan water levels are down and extreme weather events like this summer 's floods in Wisconsin are significantly up. And Wisconsinites can actually see the climate changing. Just ask anyone who 's tried to go ice fishing the last few years.

Fortunately, the IPCC provided a clear scientific consensus about what we need to do to avoid the most devastating impacts of global warming.

Specifically, the United States must halt increases in global warming emissions now, cut emissions by at least 15 to 20 percent by 2020, and slash emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050.

We are uniquely positioned in Wisconsin to be able to meet this challenge and benefit economically by harnessing our agricultural and manufacturing base to transition toward homegrown, clean, renewable energy sources.

With Gov. Jim Doyle 's leadership and bipartisan support in the Legislature, Wisconsin took an important step in 2006 by adopting a policy requiring that 10 percent of our energy come from renewable sources by 2015.

Entrepreneurs in Wisconsin already are seizing on opportunities to grow with this transition toward a new energy future. Companies like Johnson Controls are developing high-efficiency batteries for hybrid cars and seizing on a growing market for efficient technologies.

Flambeau River Papers has begun generating electricity with biomass and, remarkably, plans to phase out coal in the next three months. Dozens of Wisconsin companies are specializing in constructing and retrofitting buildings with green technologies -- all of which can reduce energy and save consumers money.

Lacking action at the federal level, Wisconsin should take the next step by following other states such as California, New Jersey and our neighbors in Minnesota in establishing a science-based plan to address global warming.

Wisconsin Environment applauds Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona, for introducing a bill, the Wisconsin Safe Climate Act, to do just that. Under Sen. Miller 's leadership as chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, the bill recently received an initial public hearing.

Judging by the large turnout and strong support from the conservation, hunting and fishing, public health, farm, labor, faith, youth and environmental community, there is clearly broad, deep and growing public support for legislative action on global warming.

Let 's recognize the great achievement of this Nobel Peace Prize, but also honor it with action.

Kohler is director of Wisconsin Environment, an environmental advocacy organization in Madison.