Latest news with #ClimateAccountabilityAct
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers unveil urgent plan to protect state from financial fallout: 'There's no scenario where we simply just don't pay'
Wisconsin lawmakers are working to garner public support for legislation that would significantly reduce the state's carbon footprint. As WQOW reported, several state lawmakers gathered in late April in Eau Claire to discuss the Climate Accountability Act, a bill that targets Wisconsin's harmful carbon pollution. The proposed bill doesn't feature concrete ideas. It would, however, require the legislature to create a plan that reduces emissions statewide by 52% by 2030 and to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The lawmakers stressed that the state must act now, and this bill must receive bipartisan support or pay the price when it comes to the effects of a changing, warming climate. "There's no scenario where we simply just don't pay," state Rep. Christian Phelps, a co-sponsor of the bill, said. "We either pay by destroying the planet or we pay by investing in renewable energy and by divesting from carbon emissions. I would rather do the latter." The bill also includes language guaranteeing that any carbon-reduction plan would also improve economic and racial equality. Wisconsin, the 20th most populous state, ranked 19th among all states for carbon emissions in 2022, at roughly 100 million tons. That puts it on par with levels from countries like Venezuela and the Czech Republic. Conservation nonprofit Clean Wisconsin says that achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is possible with aggressive action from governmental and business leaders — and that would provide the state with several benefits outside of a cleaner, healthier planet. It said that investing in renewable energy sources to reach that goal would create nearly 70,000 new jobs and add $16 billion to the state's economy, boosting Wisconsin's gross state product by about 3%. It would also create a healthier population, potentially resulting in billions of dollars saved in avoided health care costs. Do you think America could ever go zero-waste? Never Not anytime soon Maybe in some states Definitely Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Officials push forward on controversial plan that could have widespread health impact: 'The public has a right to know'
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to eliminate a 15-year-old program that requires businesses to report the amount of harmful carbon pollution they emit each year, according to The New York Times. The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program became effective in 2010. The program requires more than 8,000 U.S. companies and vendors to report how much heat-trapping pollution they produce annually, allowing the EPA to track this data over time. In March, the EPA announced it was considering stopping the program. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the program costs businesses "millions of dollars" and makes it more difficult for small businesses to operate. ProPublica recently reported that the agency may be even closer to getting rid of — or at least downsizing — the GHGRP after an EPA meeting in April. At the meeting, officials instructed staff to rescind reporting requirements for 40 of the 41 industries currently required to submit data. The GHGRP was created to shed light on pollution from major industries so that the public could understand the risks. This is especially important for communities close to power plants, refineries, and manufacturing hubs. Scaling back these requirements makes it more difficult to track air pollution and for families to know what they breathe. Without this data, local leaders won't have the information they need to advocate for cleaner air or hold polluters accountable. "The public has a right to know how much climate pollution is being emitted," said Vickie Patton, general counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund, per the Times. Patton also called it an "irresponsible" move. Despite the potential rollback of the GHGRP, many companies are still committed to reducing pollution and their carbon footprint. Major corporations like Microsoft and Unilever have pledged to invest in carbon offset projects while lowering their harmful pollution. LanzaTech is also working on technology to turn carbon pollution into usable products. There are also numerous other policies in place around the country to make the planet cleaner. New York's Climate Superfund will collect $75 billion from oil companies over two decades to address climate-related damages. Wisconsin lawmakers proposed the Climate Accountability Act, aiming to cut heat-trapping pollution in half by 2030. These efforts show that states and companies are stepping up to push for a cleaner future, even as federal oversight shifts. Explore critical climate issues and become part of the solution. Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers propose new bill to address a rapidly worsening issue impacting millions of Americans: 'We cannot afford to ignore this crisis'
The Climate Accountability Act in Wisconsin aims to cut harmful carbon pollution by about half by 2030 in hopes of achieving net-zero carbon pollution by 2050. Introduced by Citizen Action of Wisconsin — a nonprofit dedicated to economic, racial, and environmental justice — the bill would hold the state of Wisconsin accountable in establishing a strategy backed by conservation and sustainable policies to address climate concerns. As reported by The Daily Cardinal, Robert Kraig, executive director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, said: "Climate science is clear: to prevent the worst effects of climate change, we need to cut emissions in half by 2030. What the Legislature lacks is a plan to achieve that goal, and this bill ensures we develop one." Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde, a lead sponsor of the bill, quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., emphasizing the necessary haste of action with the "fierce urgency of now." "We are stewards of future generations, and we must take bold steps now to ensure a sustainable and livable planet," Rep. Moore Omokunde added. "We cannot continue burning fossil fuels without a viable plan for alternatives that benefit both urban and rural Wisconsinites." Wisconsin Sen. Chris Larson, also a bill sponsor, stressed the need for leadership on a state level, stating: "The federal administration has abandoned its responsibility to tackle climate change. Wisconsin must step up. The effects of climate change are already visible, from extreme storms to declining air quality. We cannot afford to ignore this crisis." While the national average percentage of electricity from renewable sources was about 21% in 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Wisconsin was far behind at only 9% of in-state electricity generation. Sen. Larson further explained that shifting away from dirty energy and prioritizing clean energy not only reduces pollution but also creates jobs and saves residents money in the long run. While the future of the Climate Accountability Act remains uncertain, sponsors and supporters are hopeful. "Climate change is not a partisan issue; it's a reality," Rep. Moore Omokunde stated. Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. With previous federal climate policies in limbo under the current administration — such as methane fees and clean energy projects funded by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act — it is up to the states to take action to protect current and future constituents. It is crucial to public health and economic success and can also serve as an example for national consideration. With 2024 being the hottest year ever recorded, as confirmed by NASA after record-breaking temperatures in previous years, there is no denying that the world is getting warmer. Having a plan on a national, state, and individual level is important in offsetting what could be catastrophic consequences. Consider reducing plastic in the home and opting for natural cleaning products. Walking and biking instead of driving whenever possible is another great way to reduce your carbon footprint and help cool things down on our planet. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New in the Legislature: Democrats' bill seeks to commit Wisconsin to clean emissions goal
MADISON - In new legislaton introduced this week, Democrats are proposing a measure they hope will bind the state Legislature to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% in the next five years. Here's what to know about the bill: The "Climate Accountability Act," introduced Tuesday, would not outline how the state should achieve that goal but would indicate that the Legislature is serious about climate change and the impacts it could have on the state. The proposed text of the bill is only five lines long and calls for a "viable plan" to reduce emissions by 52% by 2030, and another "viable plan" to achieve carbon neutral goals. The legislation was introduced by Democratic Representatives Supreme Moore Omokunde of Milwaukee, Angelito Tenorio of West Allis, Darrin Madison of Milwaukee, Francesca Hong of Madison, Angelina Cruz of Racine, Christian Phelps of Eau Claire and Margaret Arney of Wauwatosa. In addition, Democratic Senators Chris Larson of Milwaukee, Jodi Habush Sinykin of Whitefish Bay, Melissa Ratcliff of Cottage Grove and Tim Carpenter of Milwaukee were also involved in the drafting. Moore Omokunde talked about the "fierce urgency of now," a phrase once used by Martin Luther King Jr. "We must all decide what we will do on behalf of the planet that we love and that we live in," he said. "I say that this is a sense of urgency, because the best way to prevent runaway climate change is to cut our carbon emissions in half in the next five years, by 2030. We cannot continue to burn fossil fuels with no plans to seek alternatives." The first step would be to get the bill a hearing at the committee level. At least one legislator behind the bill acknowledged it's unlikely to receive much Republican support, and the GOP holds the majority in the Legislature. No Republicans were a part of crafting the bill, and Hong said during a press conference it is unlikely to receive much Republican support. "I predict that the majority party will be opposed to addressing the crisis," said Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison. But Moore Omokunde said he is holding out hope for bipartisan work on the issue. Recently, Republicans proposed legislation to study nuclear energy as a way to reduce the state's reliance on coal. "Right now, I'm seeing a lot of converging interests," he said. Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@ and on X @SchulteLaura. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Democrats' bill commits Wisconsin to clean emissions goal
