Governor Outlines Goals to Fight Global Warming and Improve Air
Climate change poses greatest threat to economy, quality of life, Governor tells EQC
Portland, OR—Governor Ted Kulongoski told the state Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) on Thursday that “a healthy environment helps us strengthen our economy,” and that he will move forward on a strategy to curb global warming and improve air quality in Oregon.
“The threat of global warming is real—not idle speculation,” the Governor testified. “This issue has been a priority of my administration.”
Noting warnings by regional scientists and economists that climate change poses a real threat to Oregon’s economy and quality of life, the Governor reaffirmed his support of new tailpipe emissions standards that will reduce carbon emissions throughout the state and regionally. The Governor also restated his goal to reduce such emissions statewide to a level that’s 10 percent below the levels of 1990 by 2020—and by 2050, reduce emissions to a level that’s 75 percent below those of 1990.
The Governor charged the EQC to create a strategic plan for the state Department of Environmental Quality to follow in developing and expanding existing programs to fight global warming and improve air quality. The issues are important because of their impact on the health of Oregonians and the economy, the Governor explained.
“Oregon’s quality of life and our diverse natural resource base are among our greatest assets,” he added. “When I work on recruiting economic opportunities for our state, I look for companies that complement—not compete with—maintaining these values.”
Many people overlook the relationship between the state’s environment and its economy, the Governor said, and competing interest groups often argue that Oregonians can have either but not both—a healthy environment and a robust economy. “It’s quite the contrary,” the Governor said. “A healthy environment helps us strengthen our economy.”
The Governor pointed out recent findings by a group of Pacific Northwest economists who examined scientific reports on the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. The economists warned of damage to the economy in eight key sectors if global warming continues unchecked.
Two years ago, the Governor created an Advisory Council on Global Warming, to which he appointed a diverse group of citizens with backgrounds in business, agriculture, ranching, academics and environmental issues. He instructed the Advisory Council to study the effects of global warming on Oregon, and to identify ways to curb those effects. The Advisory Council’s recommendations included goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which the Governor announced last spring, including stricter vehicle emission standards for Oregon.
If Oregon adopts stricter emission standards for cars and small trucks beginning with the 2009 model year, the state can reduce harmful carbon emissions by 13-18 percent, the Governor said. Such standards would allow reductions up to 30 percent over the next 25 years.
“If we do nothing, our trend of increasing emissions will continue to grow at approximately 1.6 percent a year,” the Governor warned.
The Governor foresees other benefits to stricter standards, including better fuel efficiency and new economic opportunities. But educating citizens and decision-makers about the harmful effects of global warming on their lives is a major challenge, the Governor said. He pledged to continue working with the Legislature to improve the public’s understanding and to take decisive action to curb global warming.
The Governor called for expanding two existing programs to improve air quality in Oregon. The first is the “Air Toxics Program,” which is a national model for reducing toxic emissions from industry, motor vehicles, and many small sources that collectively pose greater health risks than industrial sources. Many of these contribute to fine-particle pollution, haze and greenhouse gas emissions.
Reducing “air toxics” will help protect human health, curb global warming, and provide clearer air, the Governor said.
The Governor also called for strengthening the “Oregon Clean Diesel Initiative,” which seeks to reduce harmful emissions from the most significant source of air toxics in the state—diesel fuel combustion products. He highlighted other technologies and techniques that can reduce diesel use, including an initiative he launched a year ago—anti-idling technologies at truck stops, which will cut down on diesel emissions.
Bio-diesel is another tool that offers “enormous” economic benefits, as well as environmental benefits, the Governor said.
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