Environmental interview

Hey bloggers this is one of the administrators K-Dizzle. For my issue I questioned the Director of the Department of Ecology for Washington State Jay Manning. What follows are my questions and his answers word for word.

1. Do you believe that global warming is a real phenomenon?
Yes, it is real. The vast majority of credible climate scientists across the globe agree that the data supports the conclusion that the globe is warming and that increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases are the primary reason.

If yes is it caused by man or is it a natural cycle?
The same scientists agree that greenhouse gases emitted by human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, is the primary cause of global warming. These scientists agree that the global climate has natural variability, and that there have been historic cold and warm periods, but the data supports the conclusion that this cycle of warming is unnaturally fast and unprecedented in magnitude of warming. You should look at the reports of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Various IPCC reports from the last two years have been reported across the globe.

2. Do you believe that sources of energy and fuel such as biofuel, hydrogen, solar power, and wind power is the energy of the future?
Yes I do. We will see, I believe, a fairly quick transition from traditional fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) to biofuels, solar, wind, hydro and other renewables. It's already happening at a scale that is unprecedented.

3. Do you feel that the United States needs stronger laws to protect the environment, or are the laws satisfactory?
This question goes beyond climate change. America's environmental protection program is very close to the best in the world. Some European countries may be slightly more advanced, but not much. While the statutes and regulations are far from perfect,and there are some significant gaps (toxics; climate change), the existing programs are mature and advanced. Rules and regulations, however, are only as good as the people and agencies implementing them, and unfortunately, our environmental protection programs are typically underfunded and understaffed. The current Federal administration is particularly uninterested in serious efforts to protect the environment.

One of the major gaps in America's environmental protection program is climate change. We have very little in place at the Federal level to limit or reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. We have made progress at the state level and have put in place a number of programs designed to reduce emissions. Our "Clean Car" Bill, passed in 2005, that requires 2009 model year vehicles to meet stringent emission limits, is a prime example. Much more work needs to be done at the Federal and state level to put additional programs in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to promote alternative energy development and to prepare for the environmental change that we cannot avoid by reducing emissions.

4. Should America drill for oil in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge, and like wise should America consider using untapped resources in other parks and refuges?
I think the proposal to open the Artic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling is particularly short sighted. We need to use less oil, not more. Opening a particularly valuable and amazingly pristine wilderness area to drilling, to obtain a few months worth of carbon intensive oil is a lose/lose situation, except for a few oil companies that will make billions in the process

5. As a nation does the United States need to start acting more in the interest of the environment and modify it's way of life?
If we are to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in a significant way, it will require us to change the way we are currently living. I think we can and will continue to have a very high standard of living, but we will need to 1) Get rid of our old dirty cars and replace them with clean ones; 2) Drive less; 3)Replace our coal and natural gas fired energy plants with alternatives that emit less carbon; 4) Leave more land in forests and farms so we sprawl and clear cut less, etc.

We can do it, but it will take a long-term, focused effort. We don't really have much of a choice, but it will be interesting to see if our society will be willing to make the necessary changes. Historically, when we have faced a great threat, we have risen to the challenge and I know we have the capacity to do it now.