Governor appoints advisory group on climate change
Group will track progress, offer recommendations on policies
Salem, OR—Governor Kulongoski has appointed a “Climate Change Integration Group” to continue state efforts to address global warming, the Governor’s office announced Wednesday.
“It is very important to the economic and physical health of our state that we understand and address problems associated with climate change,” the Governor said. “We have taken strong measures on several fronts to combat this threat, but we need the benefit of advice from a single group in order to make the most of our efforts.”
The new integration group will continue the work of the 2004 Governor’s Advisory Group on Global Warming, which developed strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as part of a West Coast regional effort. The earlier group also recommended several policies and measures that the Governor has begun implementing. For instance, the Governor adopted greenhouse gas emission goals for Oregon, and he championed adoption of cleaner tailpipe emission standards. He also appointed a work group to develop a proposal for reducing carbon emissions in the electricity sector.
Part of the new group’s responsibilities will be to track the progress of those efforts.
The earlier group also recommended several policies and measures that the Governor endorsed. Part of the new group’s responsibilities will be to track the progress of those efforts.
The Governor selected an Oregon State University dean and the president of an environmental engineering consulting firm to co-chair the Climate Change Integration Group. Mark Abbott, dean of OSU’s College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, and Ned Dempsey, president of Century West Engineering, will lead the 20-member group of university and agency scientists, business and environmental leaders, agriculture and forest leaders and others. The Oregon Department of Energy will provide staff to the group. The group will hold its first meeting on June 27, in Room 50 at the Capitol at 9:00 a.m.
The Governor has charged the Climate Change Integration Group with tracking the State’s progress on greenhouse gas emission reductions and looking at future economic and societal implications of climate change.
“Climate change presents a vast array of challenges and opportunities to Oregonians, ranging from changes in the amount of winter snowfall and its impact on summer water supplies as well as ski resorts, to opportunities to develop new fuel resources and establish new agricultural crops,” Abbott said. “The group will examine economic opportunities and risks for Oregon businesses and governments.”
Abbott said the new group would use the 2004 advisory group report as a starting point. That report outlined how the climate of the Pacific Northwest has warmed during the past few decades. According to the report, annual precipitation has increased, and rising sea levels have affected land on the central and northern Oregon coast. Also, snow pack has declined.
The report also presented some predictions about the next 10 to 50 years, including:
· The Pacific Northwest will continue to warm, perhaps by as much as three to six degrees over the next 40 years.
· The region will suffer more summer drought and a declining snow pack.
· Oregon forests will be more vulnerable to insects, disease and fire.
· Water resource issues will likely increase.
· Sea level will continue to rise.
One potential impact of warming is the threat to Oregon’s ski industry. Some lower-elevation ski resorts may be at-risk with the projected average temperature increase of three to six degrees. Higher-elevation ski areas may face later openings and earlier ends to their seasons.
The Climate Change Integration Group will also explore new opportunities for research on the mitigation and adaptation to climate change in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. The Oregon University System will play a key role in that effort. The integration group will further serve as an information clearinghouse about measures Oregonians can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Governor’s Climate Change Integration Group Members
· Co-Chair Mark Abbott, dean, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, OSU
· Co-Chair Ned Dempsey, president, Century West Engineering
· Gail Achterman, Oregon Transportation Commission board member and director of the Institute for Natural Resources at OSU;
· Lisa Adatto, environment and economic development director, Oregon Business Association;
· Susan Anderson, director, Portland Office of Sustainable Development;
· Rex Burkholder, Metro councilor;
· Michael Burnett, executive director, The Climate Trust;
· Mike Cloughessy, director of Forestry, Oregon Forest Resources Institute;
· Bob Doppelt, director, Climate Leadership Initiative, University of Oregon;
· Christine Ervin, green building and energy consultant;
· Jenny Holmes, environmental ministries director, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon;
· Greg Jones, associate professor of geography, Southern Oregon University;
· Dan Keppen, executive director, Family Farm Alliance;
· Dr. Mel Kohn, state epidemiologist, Oregon Department of Human Services;
· John Ledger, vice president of external affairs, Associated Oregon Industries;
· Greg Miller, regulatory affairs, Weyerhaeuser;
· Ron Neilson, U.S. Forest Service (ex officio);
· Jim Pendleton, board chair, Oregon Water Resources Congress and manager of Talent Irrigation District;
· Sarah Severn, Nike, Inc.
· Dave Riley, vice president and general manager, Mt. Hood Meadows;
· Jonathan Williams, regulatory affairs, Intel.
Media Contacts:
Governor’s Office: Lonn Hoklin (503) 378-6196 or (503) 559-1034
Mary Ellen Glynn (503) 378-4656 or (917) 757-7378
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