Co-chairs of Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming put forward recommendations, request comments

Sun Prairie, Wis. – June 10 — At the June 10, 2008, meeting of the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming, Co-chairs Tia Nelson and Roy Thilly presented to Task Force members a proposal for discussion. The purpose of the proposal is to resolve issues on which members have divergent views, for inclusion in the Task Force’s plan of action to reduce Wisconsin’s contribution to global warming.


A large majority of the recommendations to be made by the Task Force have been developed on a consensus basis. They include nine important early action recommendations presented to the Governor in the form of an Interim Report in February 2008, as well as a large number of additional consensus recommendations detailed in the policy templates developed by Task Force work groups.  The Interim Report, policy templates and Co-chairs’ proposal are posted on the Task Force website, at http://dnr.wi.gov/environmentprotect/gtfgw/


Comments to the Co-chairs’ proposal are requested from Task Force members and the public.  Comments should be submitted by the end of the day on Wednesday, June 18, to the Task Force website, http://dnr.wi.gov/environmentprotect/gtfgw/


After the Co-chairs have reviewed all comments, the Task Force will meet on June 26 to vote on a revised Co-chairs’ proposal and then issue a Final Report in July.


“The Co-chair’s ‘strawman proposal’ is intended to be a compromise and, as such, it is likely to have something for everyone to like and not to like,” said Thilly. “No doubt, there will be components that each Task Force member would prefer to resolve somewhat differently. We are encouraging members to review the document as a whole and recognize that success will require everyone to take account of the views of others.”


The job of the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming has been to identify targets for reducing the state’s contribution to global climate change; to recommend policies that will enable Wisconsin to reach those targets, taking account of cost impacts, as well as benefits; and to develop policies that will help Wisconsin take advantage of the job and business opportunities presented by the necessity of dealing with climate change.  The Co-chairs’ proposal has been structured to carry out the terms of the Governor’s Executive Order that created the Task Force on Global Warming.


“Climate Change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. The Task Force on Global Warming has taken its duties very seriously, and developed a number of recommendations that will help Wisconsin reduce its global warming emissions and become more energy independent,” said Nelson.  “As the Task Force approaches the final stages of its work on these very important issues, we thank the members for their hard work, incredible spirit of cooperation and many contributions over the last year.  We will build on this foundation to resolve our outstanding issues. We recognize that, while Task Force members approach the issue of global climate change from diverse perspectives, all members share an overriding commitment to the state’s long-term economic health, quality of life and our environment. The Task Force’s Final Report to Governor Doyle will reflect this shared commitment.”