Barnes Holds First Meeting of Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change Print
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Written by Lt Gov Press, Earl Arms   
Friday, 20 December 2019 09:30

mandela-barnes-cctf4Lt. Governor joined by 30 task force members in Madison to lead work as we fight the effects of climate change.


MADISON - Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes Thursday held the first meeting of Gov. Tony Evers’ Task Force on Climate Change at American Family Insurance headquarters in Madison. He was joined by over 30 members of the task force who represent agriculture, industry and higher education, as well as many geographical locations throughout Wisconsin.

mandela-barnes“I’m honored to lead this work in Wisconsin as we fight the effects of climate change, but I’m even more honored these individuals have answered the call to assist our administration in this effort,” Lt. Gov. Barnes said. “The health and well-being of everyone in our state rely upon us to do the right thing and work to address these issues. I look forward to continued meetings and progress towards equitable and just solutions as we move our state towards a clean energy future.”

Through Executive Order 52, Gov. Evers created the Climate Change Task Force and named Lt. Gov. Barnes its chairman. Today's meeting focused on initial steps toward reaching Wisconsin’s goal of 100-percent carbon-free energy production by 2050.

"Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time,” Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary-designee Preston Cole said. “Science-based resource management is essential to addressing the challenges of a changing climate. Whether it’s preparing for more intense weather events or increased water temperatures that affect our world-class inland rivers and lakes, we need scientific research to direct our management of a changing landscape. I look forward to working with the task force as we come together to recognize the factors that drive change."

The Climate Change Task Force is charged with providing policy recommendations to Gov. Evers in August of 2020.

"The effects of climate change will be felt across all geographies and industries,” Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary-designee Caleb Frostman said. “From food processing to farming, manufacturing to retail climate change will have a significant impact on the Wisconsin workforce. I applaud Lieutenant Governor Barnes for his leadership in understanding that as a state we must prepare for the impact of climate change to ensure our economic stability."

“As people who work in the outdoors every day, farmers are uniquely positioned to understand and contribute to solutions on climate change,” Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Commercial Production (DATCP) Interim Secretary-designee Randy Romanski said. “I appreciate the leadership of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor on this important topic. DATCP is proud to serve our state’s agricultural community, and we look forward to participating in this conversation.”