RUE'S VIEWS ON ISSUES
Change the Climate on Climate Change
By Rue Furch
No, the sky isn’t falling. But it is heating up, and with every fraction of degree of temperature rise our planet is undergoing profound changes that will have serious consequences for all life on earth. Only the bought- and- paid-for scientists of the oil and coal lobbies find cause for debate. The rest of us look in apprehension, sorrow and fear as polar ice caps melt, glaciers recede and the Third World – always the first to suffer – faces the specter of food shortages.
History is instructive. We know that entire civilizations have been destroyed by people’s inability to adapt to environmental crises. Now we are facing something that seems overwhelming. We in the Fifth District have only a small voice in global affairs, but we can take steps to protect our own portion of the biosphere, and we can be models for positive change. But first, we must face up to the problem on an emergency basis, and local government must use all of its resources to act on our behalf.
We are fortunate that the Fifth District has birthed such organizations as the Climate Change Coalition and Solar Sebastopol, which are leading the way in both education and demonstration projects. But county government needs to do more. As your supervisor, I will work to set enforceable goals to reduce emissions and develop programs that will assist individuals, businesses and public agencies to meet these targets.
Here are my priorities:
- Establish programs for all government buildings, vehicles and public facilities that will lead to at least 60 percent greenhouse reductions by 2030 and 90 percent reductions by 2060. I am purposely setting higher goals to help make up for what I believe will be lesser reductions in the private sector where there is less control.
- Impose immediately a moratorium on converting forestland to other uses. Sonoma County's forest and woodlands are invaluable to sequester carbon and retain water. The county, through its Water Agency, needs to become involved in reforestation and expand watershed preservation efforts.
- Revise building codes and ordinances to ensure that green building, energy efficiency and renewable energy are the norm for new construction and are viable retrofitting alternatives. At the same time, we need to lower permit costs for owners planning to install renewable energy.
- Amend the county general plan to encourage village-centered growth and protect and conserve water sources. As a Planning Commissioner, I fought to get climate change at least mentioned in the General Plan. But our General Plan needs to be a sustainable General Plan, not just a guideline for new development. New development must not add to our carbon footprint.
- Support SMART rail and work to create a supporting transportation web of transit, bicycles and alternative vehicles.
- Prepare for the effects of climate change. Even if we do all we can do, it’s inevitable that there will be some deleterious effects from climate change. We must be prepared for water shortages, increased wildfires and the introduction of insect-borne disease caused by warmer weather. We can begin by bolstering our emergency preparedness plans, creating new community education programs and providing opportunities for volunteer service.
Putting the county on an emergency footing to address global warming does not mean we have to live in a gloom and doom atmosphere. America never had higher morale than in the dark days of World War II, when everyone on the home front supported the war effort .The challenge of climate change will also bring opportunities, and county government must not let them pass. Sonoma County has the human resources, the educational facilities, and the high tech experience to make Sonoma County a new center for green technology. If done wisely, and with the involvement of its residents, Roseland could be the place where this happens.
If we do things right – if we develop ingrained habits of sustainability, face this problem head-on as a community, base our decisions on good science and inclusive values, and invest in green technology, we can come out of this strengthened and prosperous. The Fifth District has the environmental values we need in this new world, and I will work for you to turn those values into a vibrant, sustainable future.
I want to hear from you.
I´ll listen.
