Tackling Carbon Pollution

I'm Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

During his speech at Shoreline Community College this week where he signed an executive order to fight climate change Governor Inslee spoke about how now was the time for Washington state to step up and tackle the challenge of carbon pollution.

INSLEE: The facts are clear and they are compelling. Climate change is already upon us because of carbon pollution. Ocean acidification threatens our shellfish industry. Loss of irrigation threatens our agricultural industry. Wildfires and invasive pests threaten our forest products industry. It's not too late to act, but it certainly is not too early to act. Right now is the time to step up to the plate and seize this enormous opportunity of leading the way to solutions.

Inslee said the executive order calls for the reduction of pollution from coal-fired power plants, accelerating the use of clean cars and clean fuels, and reduced emissions from transportation systems. He has appointed a new 21 member Carbons Emissions Reduction Task Force to find ways for the state to reduce carbon emissions and issue recommendations for a "market-based" plan to limit carbon pollution by November 21. During his speech Inslee read from a 2008 statute that requires the state to return greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. He also stressed that his signing of the order does not implement any new programs.

INSLEE: Instead we are setting out a deliberative and public process to decide upon how we develop the best programs possible for out state. Most of what emerges from this process will require legislative action to move forward.

That's Washington Ag Today.

I'm Lacy Gray on the Ag Information Network.