Posted on 09/16/2006 10:32:16 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO - California's recent passage of a bill to curb emissions of carbon dioxide drew praise from the head of the United Nations' climate change assessment panel, who said the move will have great influence. "Clearly this will have a profound effect on the position of the federal government," said Rajendra Pachauri, director of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. "And I would say even before that, perhaps it will have an effect on other states in the U.S. I wouldn't be surprised if in the next year or two you see other states following similar actions.
"And it will probably go beyond that," Pachauri said Friday at the Climate Change Research Conference in Sacramento. "I think the example of California, and I don't want to exaggerate this effect but I'm sure this will happen, it will have an impact on other parts of the world."
The three-day conference brought together leading experts on climate change from around California and beyond. Taken together, the presentations painted a picture of a state whose landscape is already changing and is likely to change much more in the future as the world continues to heat up.
The ranges of many plants and animals will likely shift northward or into higher elevations, possibly resulting in the extinction of alpine species and other species not able to migrate fast enough. Some of these changes are already happening as discovered by scientists comparing records of trees and wildlife from early in the last century with what they see today.
Heat waves may become more common and heat-related deaths could rise significantly.
Mosquitoes could thrive in warmer temperatures, bringing an increase in West Nile virus to the state.
The state's delicately balanced water supply could be dangerously perturbed by reductions in Sierra snowpack, and the state is vulnerable to extended droughts as shown by research on rings of long-dead trees that grew for many years in areas that are under water today.
Still, the mood was optimistic that there is time to head off some of the worst possibilities, though most scientists agreed the window is closing quickly. Many experts spoke of the need for a combination of mitigation and adaptation to the warming that is inevitable from greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere.
Pachauri said preparing for water scarcity in the future makes sense for the state, but it could also present economic opportunities arising from the need for new technologies to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Pachauri's take on California's potential sway in the climate change arena was met with appreciation, and agreement that action is critical.
"The path that the governor and Legislature has put us on is not too soon," said Martha Krebs of the California Energy Commission which organized the conference. "I agree that overall in the long run there would be net benefits."
same article also on the Contra Costa Times as..
Emission bill passage applauded U.N. applauds state's emission bill passage
SACRAMENTO: Other states likely will follow California's example, official says
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/15534920.htm
Welcome to Kyoto, California.
"The facts are in, the debate is over... "
Arghhhhh....
Might as well piss in the ocean.
"SACRAMENTO: Other states likely will follow California's example, official says "
Let me guess, NY, NJ, Wisconisn, Michigan and other Blue States that want to raise taxes.
bill to curb emissions of carbon dioxide drew praise from the head of the United Nations' climate change assessment panel, who said the move will have great influence.
I'll believe this guy cares about co2 emissions when he quits emitting them.
This is so tragic. I can't believe the Gov is buying into the global warning garbage .. and now with this legislation, all his hard work of restorning the state and keeping more businesses from leaving will be for naught.
If we thought there was a business flight before .. just wait until this kicks in along with the increase in the minimum wage. Businesses will have to leave in order to survive.
I'm stunned at his stupidity!
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