No Eric, I believe I have the same understanding you have. I just have a
different opinion on the appropriateness of what the Co-Chairs are
proposing. I fully understand the strawman proposal is the co-chair's
attempt to address policies which did not have the full support of all
the Task Force members. But what I fear is that the Co-charis will just
tack on to the report a list the greenhouse gas reduction policies and
other mitigation strategies that they decided not to include in their
final recommendation and simply advise the governor that they require
further study and support before being implemented. They need to be
recommended now. (In fact, I would argue that they don't go far
enough.)
Scientists have been warning us that global warming is a ticking time
bomb, and the Task Force was directed to accept that premise and not
debate the science. The longer we wait to act on it the worse things are
likely to become.
We got a taste of how bad things might get in the future this past week
in Wisconsin, with the high flooding (tough to bike in all that water!).
The last two summers approached drought conditions (we could still get
that this summer.) Extreme weather events, such as the ones we have
experienced in Wisconsin and other parts of the continental USA in recent
years, are what the global warming models had predicted, and are
predicting more of, the longer we wait to take actions to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions at the individual, state and federal level. The
Task Force recommendations thus far do not reflect the urgency of the
impending global warming crisis, the contributions of all of us to it,
and the consequences to all of us, including us bicyclists who by the
nature of our activities are more exposed to the elements than car
drivers. Perhaps we have more to lose by remaining silent on this issue
then the motorists.
Mike
On Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:45:11 -0700 (PDT) Eric Sundquist
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Mike,
You are misreading the document. Those policies ARE being included in the
draft. The "strawman" draft is the co-chairs' attempt to address the
issues that didn't get 100 percent support, and the listed policies are
ones they propose to include in the final compromise report. In general,
their paper weakened some important proposals on utilities, but it left
everything in on transportation except a proposal to reduce the speed
limit to 60 mph max statewide.
Eric Sundquist
----- Original Message ----
From: Michael T Neuman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 2:12:16 PM
Subject: [Bikies] Governors' Task Force on Global Warming Takes the Low
Road
According to the lastest document published on the DNR's website, the
Governor's Task Force on Global Warming is proposing NOT to recommend
a number of broad ranging policies aimed at addressing global warming
citing a lack of consensus among Task Force members on the policies
as the reason.
In a document entitled "Comprehensive Strawman Proposal" (dated June
10, 2008), the Task Force is proposing to omit a number of policies
to address global warming in the state issues stating simply
that "consensus was not reached by work groups and related matters".
For example, following transportation strategies will NOT be included
as recommendations of their final report to the Governor under their
proposed "Comprehensive Strawman Proposal":
[QUOTE]
a. Support for a single, nation-wide set of vehicle efficiency
standards like the California standards that are more aggressive than
current federal CAFE standards, recognizing that Wisconsin will not
decide this issue.
b. Strong support for a state and local action plan to work with GM
to take advantage of Wisconsin's highly skilled labor force and
existing supply chain to manufacture smaller, highly efficient
vehicles in Janesville, and assistance in market transformation to
improve sales of such vehicles.
c. A low-carbon fuel standard that is technology and feedstock
neutral.
d. Policies to enable, businesses and individuals to lower the miles
they drive, without affecting quality of life or curtailing freedom
of choice. [UNQUOTE]
For a full list, go to:
http://dnr.wi. gov/environmentprotect/gtfgw/ documents/ strawman_
highligh
ts_20080610. pdf
Comments on the Task Force's Comprehensive Strawman Proposal can be
emailed to DNRGLOBALWARMTFCOMM ENTS[at]wisconsi n.gov.
According to the DNR's website, any comments must be submitted before
5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, 2008.
http://dnr.wi. gov/environmentp rotect/gtfgw/
Mike Neuman
Preserving Our Climate for Children and Humanity: A Tribute in Honor
of: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
http://www.geocitie s.com/mtneuman/ tribute_flag. html
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