Governors agree to combat climate change
From an article Megan Orear by in The Daily Cardinal:
Leaders from nine Midwestern states and the province of Manitoba met in Milwaukee Thursday to sign the Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, a plan to increase renewable energy and help curb global climate change.
Governors from the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, and Michigan, and the premier of Manitoba signed as full participants in the accord.
South Dakota, Indiana and Ohio have signed with an “observer status,” according to Keith Reopelle, program director of the environmental advocacy organization Clean Wisconsin.
Participating states will set targets for limiting greenhouse gas emissions within the next year, and will enact the new policies in full within the next 30 months, according to a statement from Gov. Jim Doyle’s office.
Some of the policies include a regional trading system of carbon emissions and incentives to businesses that reduce emissions.
The agreement also attempts to save energy by promoting the use of renewable fuel, according to the release.
Michael Vickerman, executive director of the environmental non-profit organization RENEW Wisconsin, said the energy-saving tactics might only improve matters marginally. He said residents need to cut energy consumption by reducing wasteful habits.
“We can make progress on the technology side, but we have to change our behaviors,” Vickerman said.
