Gov. Kaine Addresses Environment Virginia Symposium
 |
Governor Kaine Addresses Environment Va. Symposium
|
LEXINGTON, Va., April 1, 2009 – Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine discussed energy, water, and transportation issues addressed by his Renew Virginia initiative, as well as state land conservation goals, in his remarks at the opening session of the 20th annual Environment Virginia symposium today at the Virginia Military Institute. The conference theme is “Sustainability: The Nexus of Economic Prosperity and Environmental Stewardship.”
Kaine said more than 329,000 acres of land had been preserved during his term, leaving only about 70,000 more acres to meet the goal he announced in 2006 of preserving 400,000 acres.
“I can tell you today,” said the governor, “we will make that goal.”
Kaine also reviewed steps taken to apply energy standards to new construction, to reduce energy and water use in state buildings, and to re-regulate production and pricing of energy.
He said that more than $1 billion had been allocated to the Chesapeake Bay cleanup with bipartisan support in the state legislature.
“The state will meet its obligation to clean up point-source pollution by 2010,” he said, noting that non-point-source pollution, such as agricultural and storm-water runoff, now needs to be addressed with “the same degree of passion and focus.”
Remarking on the need for additional public transit and the completion of related projects in the Charlottesville-Lynchburg area, the governor drew spontaneous applause when he said, “It is incredibly important that we offer people more options in getting people where they need to go.”
He indicated that the state is also working to see that planning for development includes consideration of the impact on traffic.
Kaine concluded his remarks by noting the “active participation” in state environmental initiatives of many in attendance at the conference.
Dr. Warren Muir, director of the National Academy of Sciences Division of Earth & Life Sciences, also addressed the symposium’s opening session, outlining the Academy’s recent and future efforts to provide scientific and technical advice for the United States’ response to climate change.
“The magnitude of the issues in terms of adapting to climate change as well as mitigating climate change are enormous,” he said.
“Climate change is real,” Muir said, and “human activities are involved in causing climate change.” Other major conclusions of the Academy’s objective reports, he said, include the fact that climate change is already affecting ecosystems, threatening oyster and lobster habitats and optimum temperatures in California’s wine county.
A number of reports will be released soon by the Academy, he said, and other studies are under way. Energy and transportation management are among the focuses of studies on steps to prepare for and limit future climate change.
“Because there’s a risk of abrupt climate change, we really need to take some of these actions sooner rather than later,” he remarked.
Muir noted that in addition to book-length reports analyzing available information by top scientists, the Academy is also producing material for consumption by the “broader public,” including briefs of the full reports, Web sites, and brochures.
The session opened with the presentation of colors by the VMI Color Guard and the playing of the national anthem by the VMI Brass Quintet. Col. James Park, VMI chaplain, gave the invocation, and remarks by Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, VMI superintendent, recognized the role of Capt. Ronald A. Erchul, VMI professor emeritus, in founding the conference in 1989. He noted that the Capt. R.A. Erchul Environmental Leadership Award would be presented at a banquet later that day.
-VMI-
