4/13/13

Climate Change Commission Gets a Cold Shoulder

NewsandOpinion Research Resources RelatedSites CarolinaJournalInfo CarolinaJournalNewsReports

ClimateChangeCommissionGetsaColdShoulder
Concernsoverglobalwarminghitthebackburnerinasluggisheconomy
BySaraBurrows Aug.4th,2010 More |
0

RALEIGHAfterfiveyearsbrainstormingforwaysthestatecouldfightglobalwarming,andspendingmorethan$80,000,North CarolinasLegislativeCommissiononGlobalClimateChangewentoutwithoutabangattheendoftheGeneralAssemblys shortsession,unabletoconvincelawmakerstorenewitscharter. The34membercommission,comprisinglawmakers,academics,businessrepresentatives,andenvironmentalists,formedin 2005withtheintentofstudyingclimatechangeandseeingwhat,ifanything,thestatecoulddotolimitit.Yearafteryear,the commissionaskedtheGeneralAssemblyformoretimetocomeupwithrecommendations.InMay2010,thecommission publisheditsfinalreport. Thereportcontained42recommendationsforfutureconsiderationandsevenlegislativeproposalsforimmediate consideration,oneofwhichwastoestablishapermanentclimatechangecommission.Thewishwasnotgranted. Thetwoproposalsthatdidbecomelawonlycommissionedmorestudies.Oneorderedastudyofcarbonsequestration.The otherdirectedstateagenciestoreviewcurrentenvironmentalprogramsinthelightofglobalwarming. Rep.PriceyHarrison,DGuilford,whocochairedthecommission,saidthereweretoomanydisagreementsandnotenoughtime tomakeacaseforestablishingapermanentclimatechangecommissionintheshortsession. Wewereprettytruncatedandmostlyfocusedonthebudget,Harrisonsaid.Therewerentalotofcontroversialissuesthatwe hadenoughtimetogetto. Harrisonacknowledgeditsdebatablewhetherastatecandoanythingtopreventglobalwarming,butsaidNorthCarolina shouldatleasttakemeasurestoadapt. Wehavethethirdmostvulnerablecoastlinetosealevelrise,shesaid.Thatssomethingthatsreallynotdebatable.Thats somethingthatshappening. Otherthingsthestateshouldprepareforincludeapotentialinfluxofbugsthatkilltrees,theinabilitytogrowChristmastrees,the floodingoftheOuterBanks,andoutbreaksofheatrelatedillnesses.
www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=6679 1/3

4/13/13

Climate Change Commission Gets a Cold Shoulder

RoyCordato,vicepresidentforresearchandresidentscholarattheJohnLockeFoundation,saidpublicconcernoverglobal warmingreacheditspeakseveralyearsagoandhasbeendiminishinginstepwiththedecliningeconomyeversince. TheClimateChangeCommissionmissedtheboat,hesaid.Ifitwantedtogetanylegislationpasseditshouldvedonesoyears ago,whenpeoplecaredmoreabouttheissue. NowpollsshowpeoplearemorelikelytobelievethereareghostsorthatalienswillattacktheEarth,hesaid. AlettersentinAprilbyrepresentativesoftheenergy,manufacturing,forestry,agriculturalandautoindustriesexemplifiedthe kindofresistanceHarrisonsaidthecommissionwasupagainst. Theletterexpressedoppositiontothecommissionsrecommendations,whichincludedphasingoutcoalplants,reducingtheuse ofwoodybiomass,movingtowardpublictransportation,andloweringvehicleemissions. Thebusinessmenthreatenedadditionalenvironmentalregulationswouldcontinuetocreateunemploymentandpointedto Californiaasarecentexampleofwhathappenswhenstatesoverburdenemployerswithmandates. Asmuchaswehadhopedtohavethecooperationoftheindustriesthatweregoingtobeimpactedbytheclimatecommission,it seemedliketheywerentsupportiveandthatmakesitahigherhurdletomakethesaletothepublicandourcolleagues, Harrisonsaid. HarrisonsaidshehopesWashingtonpassesanenergybilladdressingclimatechangesoon,sothestateswonthavetoworry somuchaboutit. Ifthefederalgovernmentisntgoingtodoanything,thestatesneedtobealittlemoreproactive,shesaid. NorthCarolinaForestryAssociationVicePresidentBobSlocum,whosatontheClimateChangeCommissionforfiveyears,said hewishedthecommissionweregoneforgood,butfearsitwillresurface. Hesaidifapermanentcommissioniseverestablished,hedoesntwanttobeonit. Thisonetookupanincredibleamountoftime,andIcantsayitproducedanything,hesaid. Nonetheless,theForestryAssociationwillbekeepingacloseeyeontheissue,hesaid. WecertainlyhaventheardthelastofclimatechangelegislationinNorthCarolina,Slocumsaid.Iexpecttoseesomeof[the recommendations]introducednextyear. Harrisonconfirmedthecommissionwouldtryagainnextyear,ifDemocratsretaincontrolofthelegislature. IfwegetaRepublicanmajority,allthisstuffisdead,Cordatosaid. HarrisonsuggesteditmighttakeanAugustfullof100degreedaystomaketherecommendationslaw. ThesnowinJanuarydidntdousanyfavors,shelaughed. SaraBurrowsisanassociateeditorofCarolinaJournal.

www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=6679

2/3

4/13/13

Climate Change Commission Gets a Cold Shoulder

2013JohnLockeFoundation,200WestMorganSt.,Raleigh,NC27601,Voice:(919)8283876 DesignHammer,aRaleigh,Durhamwebdesigncompany~BuildingSmarterwebsites

www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=6679

3/3