| Environmental Principles and Priorities: Global Warming and Energy |
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| Why is this important? What are the key issues? |
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Global warming poses a serious and growing threat to Oregon’s economy, natural resources, forests, rivers, agricultural lands, and coastline. Already Oregon’s snowpack is in decline and the trend continues, which means less water for fish, irrigation and other needs in the summer. As climate warms and becomes more variable, our forests become increasingly susceptible to fires and new forms of disease and pests. Our coastline is eroding and rising sea levels will threaten our coastal communities and road infrastructure with flood events. Developing strategies today to combat global warming, in concert with regional, national and international efforts, will lessen the impacts to Oregon’s natural resources over the coming decades.
At the same time, focusing efforts in Oregon to combat global warming today will create new opportunities for economic development. Oregon is in a position to be a global leader where new companies with technologies to combat global warming choose to locate and manufacture products. Dozens of companies already produce these products throughout Oregon and that number will only increase in the future if we foster this market. Oregon already is the home to one of the largest wind farms in the world, and we will continue to aggressively develop renewable forms of energy that stimulate local investment and do not contribute to global warming. Wind, biofuels, geothermal, and solar resources all are prevalent in Oregon and we will benefit from their increased development within our state.
Global warming touches all parts of our state and provides an opportunity to bridge our rural and urban divide. Energy and crops produced on our agricultural and forest lands can help to power our cities and our vehicles. In the process, jobs and economic growth can be stimulated in both our urban and rural sectors.
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