The co-chairs of a Democratic task force charged with developing proposals to combat global climate change reached out to AMWA and more than 300 other associations and business groups last week to seek input and policy suggestions.
Led by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the new Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change is seeking ideas from stakeholders on how to use existing federal authorities and new legislative initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the country’s resilience to climate change impacts. Stakeholders contacted for feedback include industry, labor, nongovernmental organizations, academia, business and trade associations, and faith-based and public health groups.
According to Waxman and Whitehouse, information collected from stakeholders will be shared with the Obama Administration and congressional leaders and could form the basis of future climate change policies. But with congressional Republicans largely opposed to new climate legislation, the ultimate outcome of the effort is uncertain.
AMWA is in the process of developing a response to the task force and will send a draft version to the association’s Sustainability Committee for review. The final comments to the task force are due by February 20.