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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 2019)
A5 THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019 Cap and trade: ‘I don’t think they get it’ Continued from Page A1 Nicole Bales/The Astorian Phil Mote, the director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute at Oregon State University, discusses climate change and its myths at the Columbia Forum on Tuesday night. Forum: ‘Rising seas and increasing storminess are already wreaking havoc’ Continued from Page A1 “Rising seas and increasing storminess are already wreaking havoc with many of the coastal areas,” Mote said. He shared an analysis of infra- structure at risk from 4 feet of sea level rise in counties along the coast. Clatsop County was ranked the most affected county in all catego- ries, including the number of people affected, number of homes, number of miles of roadway and number of sewage treatment plants. “So, even 4 feet of sea level rise or high water event can really have impacts,” Mote said. Another myth he shared is the idea global warming is natural. “There’s a big difference between the human infl uence and the natural infl uences and together they can explain most of what we saw in the 20th century record,” Mote said. However, he said science shows that human infl uence has been the dominant cause of global warming. And scientists are not divided over that, he said. “The closer you are to the evi- dence and to the work that all of the scientifi c community is doing, the clearer it is that humans are respon- sible,” Mote said. He also addressed the common misconception that there is time to prevent irreversible damage from climate change. “At whatever point we stabilize CO2 concentrations in the atmo- sphere, in other words at whatever point we’re done emitting CO2, that’s roughly where the tempera- ture will stop,” Mote said. “There’s nothing particularly magical about 2 degrees Cels ius.” He said there’s more impact with each degree, but there is no tipping point. He said carbon dioxide emis- sions just need to be reduced as quickly as possible. “There’s a huge gap from where we’re headed absent of policy and where we think we want to go in order to stabilize global climate. A nd this is one of the most out-in- front states in the union, California and a couple of others being ahead of us,” Mote said. He said stabilizing carbon diox- ide emissions will be a major challenge. “My view as a scientist is I want to see emissions reduced because I understand the harm that will hap- pen if we don’t reduce emissions. A nd whatever policy gets us to reduce emissions is fi ne with me — if it’s cap and trade, if it’s car- bon tax, if it’s just executive branch regulation — at any means neces- sary,” he said. away by the people of Oregon, or a majority of them, then so be it. But there are going to be other ways people will express their dissatis- faction with the majority.” him to vote for cap and trade. “The reason has to do with the poisoning of the well by virtue of the unsuccessful attempt to pass Feverish pressure it this previous session,” Bentz Gov. Kate Brown told report- said. “I think the focus should be on carbon policy that has noth- ers last week that she expects Sen- ing to do with pricing carbon, and ate Republicans to show up in Feb- everything to do with addressing ruary the same as she expects that CO 2 reduction using tools already from Democrats. “They made a decision to run available, and we have a lot of for the Legislature, and I expect them.” He pointed out federal tax cred- them to show up and do their jobs,” its already exist to address some Brown said. Senate Minority Leader Her- carbon issues. man Baertschiger, Democrats R-Grants Pass, worry that Sen- ‘THE said he believes ate Republicans short session might not show up WALKOUT WAS the shouldn’t be used in February, deny- ONLY USED for big policy pro- ing Democrats a grams like cap quorum and from AS A VOTE and trade, rather accomplishing budgetary fi xes anything ahead of BLOCKING and minor legis- what is expected DEVICE lative tweaks. He to be an important also said it’s too election for both BECAUSE early to discuss parties next fall. whether Republi- “The walkout OF THE cans would use the was only used as INCREDIBLY denial of quorum a vote blocking as a tactic in 2020. device because EGREGIOUS For Dembrow, of the incredibly he’s not confi dent egregious nature NATURE that a cap-and- of these bills and OF THESE trade proposal in concepts,” Bentz 2020 would with- said. “I don’t think BILLS AND stand the feverish people understand CONCEPTS’ pressure Repub- how overreach- licans will surely ing HB 2020 was. Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario feel against the I don’t think they legislation from get it.” He said that if Democrats refer their base in an election year. Although he’s excited to see a constitutional amendment to vot- ers changing Oregon’s quorum others take up the work he and his requirement, he won’t stand in the colleagues are pushing to get done way. The Oregon Senate requires in February, he’s doubtful whether two-thirds of senators be pres- it will help Democrats in their pur- ent to act. There has been talk of suit of climate action. “In some ways (these measures) changing that to a majority, which would allow the Democratic-con- could lead to quicker, stronger trolled Senate in the current lineup action than legislative action,” he said. “Will they help move Repub- to proceed without Republicans. Bentz expects a public back- licans to allowing a climate bill to be considered in February? I don’t lash to such a change. “That’s exactly what people are know.” The Oregon Capital Bureau is a supposed to do when they see the majority overreaching. They need collaboration between EO Media to step up and say ‘no,’” Bentz Group, Pamplin Media Group and said. “Now if that tool is taken Salem Reporter. 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