Liz on Climate Change

We must treat the global climate crisis as every bit as immediate and profound as COVID-19. The COVID pandemic has taught us that when communities around the globe take a threat seriously enough, they are capable of changing their behavior quickly and radically. We must approach climate change with the same sense of urgency, determination, and unity we have brought to the pandemic.

The Need

Humans have raised the temperature of Earth’s atmosphere by 1° Celsius. According to the International Panel on Climate Change, if we do everything we can it is possible to limit warming to an additional 0.5°, which could prevent up to 50% of the negative impacts on our environment we will see if we stay on our current course. 

Across the U.S. and the world, we have experienced an increased ferocity of wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and droughts. An unprecedented number of species are in danger of extinction. Whole ecosystems are adjusting in unpredictable ways. There are climate change refugees seeking refuge and whole communities whose homes are gone. And the poorest and most disadvantaged communities will be the first to lose access to clean water, productive land, and a livable climate.

To keep the Earth habitable and to prevent unprecedented suffering, people, businesses and governments at every level must take every possible step to eliminate emissions of greenhouse gases and to sequester carbon. And we must do it in a way that does not disadvantage people at the lower end of the economic spectrum. We know what needs to be done to move back from the brink. We only need the will to do it. 

The Solution

Climate change is the result of many different human activities, and we need to address as many as possible. Legislative action that can be taken includes:

• Eliminating carbon emissions from the electric power industry. About 30% of Minnesota’s carbon emissions come from the production of electric energy. This industry has already shown that it can operate without the use of fossil fuels; now let’s take the final step to carbon-free power. I support Governor Tim Walz’s plan to eliminate carbon emissions for this sector, but believe we should move the target date from 2050 to 2030.
• Eliminating carbon emissions from transit and transportation. This sector represents 36% of Minnesota’s carbon emissions. Whether we cut emissions through a carbon fee and dividend system or through regulation, we need to move quickly to provide adequate time for the industry and consumers to adjust. We also need to make hybrid and electric cars more affordable so that this part of the solution is within reach of lower income Minnesotans. 
• Reducing emissions and increasing carbon sequestration in agriculture. Agriculture is responsible for about 25% of our greenhouse gas emissions. We need to provide support for farmers to adopt regenerative farming practices that reduce emissions and help sequester carbon. And we should ask cattle and dairy farmers to adopt methane reduction plans similar to pollution prevention plans from other industries.
• Making the implications for climate change the filter through which we evaluate proposals for infrastructure and other large industrial or construction projects. We should require every such project to pass a basic test before we get to the details of permitting: Given its implications for climate change, is it in the public interest? Projects that facilitate the continued use of fossil fuels, eliminate a significant amount of carbon sequestration, or emit a significant volume of greenhouse gases should carry a presumption that they are not in the public interest.

Yes, I know this is an ambitious agenda, but let’s work together to make it a realistic one!  

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