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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