Page 1 of 2 Nowakowski, Sonja From: Marcia Youngman [
[email protected]] Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008 4:44 PM To: Nowakowski, Sonja Subject: climate change August 22, 2008 Sonja Nowakowski Legislative Environmental Policy Office and Environmental Quality Council Dear Ms. Nowakowski: I am writing to urge the EQC to go much further in its proposals to address climate change. We can’t afford bland, toothless political compromise on an issue this important. We need to rise to the challenge now if we care at all about our children’s future in Montana. The 11 proposals EQC currently plans to put forward are disappointingly trivial in comparison to the magnitude and urgency of the challenges (and opportunities) climate change represents for Montana’s economy, environment, wildlife habitat, way of life, and future. We need to take far more significant actions than EQC proposes, and swiftly, or Montana will face changes that will dramatically alter the state as we know it and will cause hardship, difficult adjustments, and shocking expenses. Any delay in action because of short-term expenses is penny wise and many dollars foolish. The proposals EQC is ignoring may in some cases cost money upfront but will reap far greater economic gains and savings for the state. As a former Bozeman mayor and current active participant in my community, I support the 54 recommendations of the Governor’s Climate Change Advisory Committee. Individuals, government agencies, businesses, and industry all must share in actions to reduce greenhouse emissions. From energy providers to appliance stores to homeowners, we all have an important part to play.