Madison, WI – After accepting testimony at a public hearing
September 25th where Senate Bill 81 received significant public
support, the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources voted this
morning in favor of the bill known as the Wisconsin Safe Climate Act which
would reduce global warming emissions in Wisconsin to 1990 levels by 2020.
“This morning’s vote is an important step toward global
warming solutions,” said Dan Kohler, director of Wisconsin Environment. “We are seeing global warming impacts like
the extreme rainfall and flooding we experienced this summer to the low lake
levels in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior to the prospect of another winter
without ice cover on the lakes. In the
absence of federal action, it is critical the state Legislature act to address
the problem.”
In February 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC), a United Nations body charged with assessing the scientific
record on global warming, found that the evidence of global warming is
“unequivocal” and concluded, with more than 90% certainty, that human
activities are responsible for most of the observed increase in global average
temperatures since the mid-20th century.
“Reducing carbon
emissions is not only the right thing to do for the environment and public
health and safety; it is the right thing to do for the economy,” stated Jon
Geenen, director of United Steelworkers, District 2. “Transitioning to new
cleaner energy will clearly result in the development of new technology and new
markets, but equally important will generate high quality family sustaining
jobs.”
Wisconsin is a large emitter of global warming
pollution. According to data from the
Department of Energy, Wisconsin’s carbon emissions increased 25% between 1990
and 2004. Were Wisconsin its own country, it would have ranked 37th
in the world for emissions during 2004, ahead of nations such as Austria and
Portugal.
"This legislation is much-needed," said Sue
Beitlich, President of Wisconsin Farmers Union. "Climate change is having
a visible effect on agriculture. Farmers continue to suffer from weather-related
disasters, each year seemingly worse than the one before. Weather has become
more unstable and unpredictable, and for farmers, who rely so much on the
weather, this is a serious issue."
According to the IPCC, to avoid the worst impacts of global
warming, 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.
"It is very critical that the state take action to
address climate change to protect Wisconsin's valuable fish and wildlife
habitat and our rich hunting, fishing and trapping heritage,” said George
Meyer, executive director of Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.
With leadership from Governor Doyle and bi-partisan support
in the Legislature, Wisconsin took an important step in 2006 by adopting a
policy requiring that 10% of our energy come from renewable sources by
2015. Twenty five states have adopted
similar policies to promote renewable energy and over a dozen states have
policies to reduce global warming emissions.
Three states, New Jersey, California and Hawaii, have adopted statewide
caps lowering emissions of global warming pollution to 1990 levels by 2020.
“Wisconsin in on the right path to developing homegrown,
clean renewable energy like wind, solar and biomass,” said Kohler. “Now it’s time to take the next step.”
Wisconsin Environment thanks Senator Wirch, Senator Jauch
and Senator Miller for voting for the Wisconsin Safe Climate Act. We look forward to working with all members
of the Legislature and the Governor’s office for global warming solutions.
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Wisconsin Environment is a statewide, non-partisan, non-profit
environmental advocacy organization and is the new home of WISPIRG’s
environmental work.
