Governor John Bel Edwards signs an executive order that sets the state’s goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2025, 50% by 2030, and achieve net-zero by 2050. Policy director for Audubon Louisiana Brent Newman says it’s a historic moment
“This is the state demonstrating its intent to also become a leader in climate mitigation through this reduction in emissions, the creation of the Climate Initiative Task Force, and some of the other actions outlined in the executive order,” said Newman.
He says the plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is a doable feat and a new Climate Initiatives Task Force will lead the way.
“We’re going to take the knowledge that we have here at home, through our industry groups, through our conservation organizations, through spokespeople for environmental justice, to sit down at a table together and come up with our own unique strategy,” said Newman.
Without action, experts estimate Louisiana could lose as much as 4,000 square miles of coastal land over the next 50 years, based on the rates of sea-level rise, which is indirectly influenced by rates of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Newman says it will be important to get industry on board.
“It is important to have them at the table, because it is such a big part of our economy. Also, Louisiana is a state where an oil and gas emissions and industry are a big part of our emissions overall, so you can’t have a solution that doesn’t have them at the table and a part of the solution,” said Newman.
Comments