On June 2 the Environmental Protection Agency announced first-ever rules to limit carbon pollution from existing power plants — the U.S.’s single largest source of the pollution driving climate change. This is an important next step on the fight to clean up our air and affect climate change.

In Minnesota, more and more of our citizens have experienced firsthand the impacts of climate change. The wet June we just experienced. The flooding that has caused millions of dollars of damage to homes, roads and crop. Across the country there are wildfires destroying our forests and homes fueled by ever-hotter temperatures and strong hot wilds. Our outdoor animals are being impacted by drought, wet conditions and pests that can now survive the milder winters. Sea-level rise is eating away at our coasts. Drought has pushed California has been in a state of emergency since January.

In Minnesota climate change is directly affecting the moose population, deer herd and brook trout. Add to that the ever-increasing cost of fighting aquatic invasive species like invasive carp and other AIS plants and pests in our lakes, streams and rivers. Terrestrial invasives are invading our forests and crops, as well.

As a sportsmen and wildlife enthusiast, I support these rules because it’s clear that we must act if we want to be able to continue to enjoy Minnesota’s natural resources and be able pass them on for future generations to enjoy, as well.

I applaud the EPA for taking this major step to reduce the pollutants driving these devastating impacts. We need more leadership like this to ensure that fishing for brook trout for hunting for moose or deer doesn’t become just a memory.

 

Gary Botzek

executive director

Minnesota Conservation Federation

St. Paul