Portland City and Multnomah County Leaders Show Climate Leadership While State Leaders Hesitate
Our state legislators who should be setting a good example seem to be sitting this one out on the sidelines.
In a recent analysis, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found that by the end of December 2008, CO2 in the atmosphere had risen by 16.2 billion tons. This increase occurred despite the economic downturn, which has generally resulted in a decline of fossil fuel use. Climate change is more urgent than ever, and Portland City and Multnomah County demonstrated strong commitment to the future health and economic strength of their citizens last week by capping emissions in their Climate Action Plan 2009.
The new Climate Action Plan sets a concrete, declining cap on emissions and lays out a framework for action that individuals, businesses and government can realistically achieve together. By taking the steps outlined in the plan Portland and Multnomah County will have reduced carbon emissions to 80% below their 1990 levels by 2050.
Ironically, our state legislators, who should be setting a good example, seem to be sitting this one out on the sidelines. Oregon currently has some of the strongest greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals in the country, but a commitment to meet the goals is hitting a brick wall this session. Industrial lobbyists and special interest groups are working overtime to convince legislators that capping emissions is a) impossible b) will result in a mass exportation, lemming-like, of Oregon companies to a more “business friendly” environment and c) lonely at the state level.
This last is bordering on bizarre when you consider that seven other states, including neighboring Washington, already have emissions caps in place. For a state that built its reputation on setting green standards, Oregon now finds itself lagging behind, and for no good reason.
Maryland just passed its carbon cap last month in part to help the state’s economy and create jobs. Maryland, which also participates in the RGGI cap-and-trade system, rightly believes that when a federal cap and trade program kicks off, “early action” states will benefit from valuable experience in carbon regulation, and be rewarded with greater allocations of carbon allowances. That sounds a lot smarter than waiting out the next couple of years and settling for crumbs.
Thankfully, Portland and Multnomah County realize what’s at stake. The new plan and its carbon cap is a bright spot for those who understand we all need to learn how to live and thrive in a low carbon society.
Stepping up the effort to reduce carbon emissions has lots of positive benefits. Together, we’ll reduce air pollution for cleaner air and healthier families. We’ll create more local jobs so that dollars currently spent on fossil fuels will no longer leave our economy, but stay here to pay for home insulation, lighting retrofits, solar panels, bicycles, engineering, green building design and construction. We’ll use less energy resulting in lower energy bills for everyone. And we’ll ignite the creativity and passion of the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators and policy-makers.
Portland and Multnomah County are taking ownership for the transition to a more prosperous, sustainable and climate-stable future. Capping carbon emissions is a galvanizing move that will set off proactive thinking and creative action to solve one of our greatest problems. It’s too bad our state leaders continue to stumble over the simple concept of a starting point.
