DeFazio holds discussion at OSU
The Daily Barametor
By Abigail Erickson
October 22, 2014
Rep. Peter DeFazio addressed students — and the rest of Oregon State University — about climate change when he visited OSU Oct. 21. Associate Director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute Kathie Dello also spoke during the event.
Together, DeFazio and Dello spoke about how researchers and legislators are collaborating to combat climate change. After statements from Dello and DeFazio, the floor was opened to questions from students and attendees. The event, titled “The State of Climate Change Policy and Research,” drew in approximately 50 attendees.
Dello started the discussion with her views and findings on climate change as a researcher.
“Climate change is real,” Dello said. “We know it’s real, we know humans are causing it and we know that there is scientific evidence supporting this.”
Dello noted that 2014 is likely to be the warmest year on record. Dello also mentioned that the Pacific Northwest has warmed 1.5 degrees in the last century and there have been an increased number of fires since 1970. Oregon and Washington led the nation in acres burned this summer.
“What happens here in Oregon depends on global greenhouse gases,” Dello said. “As overwhelming as that sounds, there is hope.”
According to Dello, Oregon has made progress, and a lot of research has been done at OSU to combat climate change. Oregon has also created a Climate Adaptation Plan to address and adapt to rising sea levels, stream flow changes and snowpack decline. Since agriculture is an important industry in Oregon, researchers have been looking at ways to develop better methods of irrigation.
“We spent three years working with water users in Idaho,” Dello said. “They were really receptive, and we learned a lot from them.”
DeFazio spoke afterwards, and highlighted the current debate over climate change happening in Washington D.C.
“Currently there are measures up for election that are denying climate change altogether,” DeFazio said.
DeFazio then spoke about some of the steps legislators take to combat climate change. In 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that greenhouse gas emissions could also count as pollutants. After that ruling, administrators would have to issue an endangerment finding. In 2009, the Obama administration did rule that greenhouse gases would be submitted to regulations.
“There have been significant steps in the right direction,” DeFazio said. “But we are nowhere near where we want to be.”
DeFazio elaborated on research that has been done to increase fuel efficiency in cars and trucks to cut fuel costs and consumption. One highlight was the new standards for trucks that could save 270 metric tons of gasoline in four years.
“Forty percent of carbon pollution comes from our power plants,” DeFazio said.
According to DeFazio, proposals are being made to regulate emissions and give different plants the flexibility they need to up their standards. In contrast, several nationwide measures have been passed to reduce restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions.
“We do not have a national renewable portfolio standard,” DeFazio said. “We need it. We also need a national code for building efficiency. The more efficient the building, the less electricity that will be necessary.”
DeFazio also covered topics such as ocean acidification and balancing renewable energies while protecting the surrounding wildlife.
After DeFazio finished, several students asked questions ranging from topics such as nuclear power, adapting to current climate risks, carbon taxes and alternate forms of energy such as wave-generated energy. Overall, students reacted positively to DeFazio and Dello’s responses to their questions.
Dylan McDowell, the legislative outreach assistant for the OSU Government Relations office, attended the event.
“Because we have all these world-renowned faculty members, it’s wonderful (DeFazio) could come to campus for Q-and-A,” McDowell said. “It’s great for people to see both the Washington side and the research side.”
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