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Speaker outlines global warming's effect on Oregon
by Sanjay Shenai | Freelance Reporter |
Event organizer Jesse Hough said the purpose of the event was to empower the University community to make a difference, through personal choices as well as political action, in the fight against climate change.
"My hope is that the students will leave here with the idea that they can stop global warming, and that it's our responsibility to start taking action," Hough said
The evening's message, however, was not altogether ominous.
"There are real significant economic opportunities for this state and for this country, frankly, in terms of dealing with global warming," he said. "It's not just bad news. As long as we wake up to the bad news, we can really make some significant adjustments and move forward."
Bradbury said that ultimately his objective in appearing Thursday was to "drive home the message" of global warming.
"I hope to make it clear to people that global warming is not just a problem, it's a real crisis," Bradbury said.
Oregonians have a role to play in reducing climate change.
"We're not worse at (causing) global warming than other states," he said, but "we're not better."
To that end, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has joined the governors of Washington, California, New Mexico and Arizona in committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the state's borders.
Together, these states represent the fifth largest economy in the world, said Bradbury.
Individual states must band together to fight global warming, he said, because of resistance to action at the federal level by the Bush Administration, which Bradbury compared to "an ostrich with its head in the sand."
Because most of the 2008 presidential candidates, both Democrats and Republicans, have acknowledged global warming as a problem, "you're going to see a dramatic change once we get rid of the current incumbent," he said.
Bradbury also praised University President Dave Frohnmayer for his April 18 pledge to reduce the greenhouse gas and carbon footprint of the campus, as part of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
"My hope is that the students will leave here with the idea that they can stop global warming, and that it's our responsibility to start taking action," Hough said
The evening's message, however, was not altogether ominous.
"There are real significant economic opportunities for this state and for this country, frankly, in terms of dealing with global warming," he said. "It's not just bad news. As long as we wake up to the bad news, we can really make some significant adjustments and move forward."
Bradbury said that ultimately his objective in appearing Thursday was to "drive home the message" of global warming.
"I hope to make it clear to people that global warming is not just a problem, it's a real crisis," Bradbury said.
Oregonians have a role to play in reducing climate change.
"We're not worse at (causing) global warming than other states," he said, but "we're not better."
To that end, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has joined the governors of Washington, California, New Mexico and Arizona in committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the state's borders.
Together, these states represent the fifth largest economy in the world, said Bradbury.
Individual states must band together to fight global warming, he said, because of resistance to action at the federal level by the Bush Administration, which Bradbury compared to "an ostrich with its head in the sand."
Because most of the 2008 presidential candidates, both Democrats and Republicans, have acknowledged global warming as a problem, "you're going to see a dramatic change once we get rid of the current incumbent," he said.
Bradbury also praised University President Dave Frohnmayer for his April 18 pledge to reduce the greenhouse gas and carbon footprint of the campus, as part of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
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