Sen. Wieckowski Addresses Climate Issues With Policymakers

CALIFORNIA — State Senator Bob Wieckowski recently joined 135 other state legislators from 37 states for the 2018 National Issues Forum, organized by the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. The event provides state lawmakers the opportunity to collaborate on policy solutions on issues related to climate, energy, conservation, and environmental health. Sen. Wieckowski welcomed the NCEL members to California in his opening remarks to the Forum.

"All of us here are united in our commitment to protecting our environment and the tremendous natural resources throughout the United States," Wieckowski, the chair of the California Senate’s Environmental Quality Committee, told the legislators. "Being from the state hosting this forum, I can tell you I am very proud of the steps California has taken on climate change issues, specifically, and environmental issues overall. We have a rich legacy of being at the forefront on the environment whether it is the Clean Air Act and curbing tailpipe emissions, or creating a Cap and Trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below the 1990 level by 2030."

The forum agenda included a discussion of single-use plastic pollution and featured a keynote address from actor, filmmaker, and UN Environment Program Goodwill Ambassador Adrian Grenier.

Mr. Grenier spoke about the need for a culture shift on attitudes toward plastic pollution. "We need to make connections between our everyday life and the environment," said Grenier. "Once we do that, we won’t just throw away plastic thinking it will disappear."

Other session topics included climate adaptation and mitigation, wildlife and landscape conservation, eliminating toxins in consumer products and drinking water, and more.

NCEL Executive Director Jeff Mauk believes that states are better positioned than ever before to take action on environmental issues.

"With all of the environmental protection rollbacks at the federal level, state legislators are feeling empowered and excited to take meaningful action on the environment," said Mauk. "By conserving our coasts, lands and wildlife, safeguarding our drinking water, and reducing carbon emissions and other pollution in the air we breathe, environmental legislators are poised to advance a historic agenda in the coming year."

"As chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, one of my priorities is enhancing the collaboration and coordination of the state’s effort on climate adaptation with regional, local and tribal governments and the non-profit and private sectors," said Wieckowski, the author of SB 262, which would help the state accomplish that goal. "We have so many people working on mitigating emissions and climate adaptation that it becomes increasingly important to make sure it is a coordinated effort so we get the biggest bang for the buck for our taxpayers."

Created by and for state legislators, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit that organizes over 1,000 environmentally-committed state legislators from all 50 states and both parties. NCEL provides venues and opportunities for lawmakers to share ideas and collaborate on environmental issues.

Senator Wieckowski represents the 10th District, which includes southern Alameda County and parts of Santa Clara County.

-Announcement and photo via Sen. Wieckowski's Office