Will economics trump science in battle over global warming?

Will economics trump science in battle over global warming?, July 2010

For years, the debate over climate change centered on science: is global warming occurring and, if so, is it being caused by humans? But with the economy still struggling, the argument has shifted to one of dollars and cents. As complex as the scientific debate has been, the fiscal reality of fighting climate change is even more confusing and politically charged.

Nowhere is this more evident than in CALIFORNIA, where an all out battle is now underway to block state officials from implementing AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which requires the Golden State to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Additional legislation and executive orders have added to that directive, requiring the state to achieve a 33 percent renewable energy portfolio by 2020 and local municipalities to account for GHG reduction in regional planning and development. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has set an ultimate goal of cutting GHG emissions 80 percent by 2050. [click title to continue reading]

Rich Ehisen

Rich Ehisen has been a reporter and editor for almost 30 years, and is currently the editor in chief at Capitol Weekly, which covers the California State Capitol in Sacramento. For two decades previous he was the managing editor of the State Net Capitol Journal, a LexisNexis publication that covers state public policy issues and trends nationwide. In that role he was also the producer and host of the SNCJ Deep Dive podcast and the SNCJ Hot Issues webinar series. He is also the producer and moderator of The Open Mic: Writers in Their Own Words, a podcast and YouTube show that features his discussions on writing with crime fiction, mystery and thriller authors.