Climate Goals: Local Perspective Needed!

• As we gear up for the keynote lecture of The Nature of Things series, there is no better time to consider active legislation efforts regarding climate change. Next Wednesday, Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, will speak to us about the EDF’s ambitious efforts toward a bright future.
  
  Until then, this article provides a list of goals that the EDF has formulated in preparation for this year's round of climate and energy legislation. At a national level, they are prolonging efforts to enact further regulations that would limit emissions, as well as defending the Environmental Protection Agency's power to regulate our air quality.
  
  Unfortunately, these are formidable challenges indeed. As we know, the fight to stop climate change, clean up our air, and implement effective alternative energy technologies on a large scale is rife with obstacles. And these issues aren't just vague entities that float around in the ether of federal legislative debate; actions must be taken on every scale, from the federal domain to the state level, right on down to the individual. This brings us to another of the EDF's goals, which involves finding messages that truly spark concern and participation among the public.
  
  So, as a respirating resident of our blue earth and red state (referring to geology, of course):
• What do you think are the most effective messages to present to both fellow citizens and policy makers?
• At what level do you think new regulations will be most effective? Surely, the big polluters will avoid cutting emissions unless faced with some serious action at the federal level, but state, local, and personal actions are also important.
• How will Utah be affected?
  
  Don't worry, you're not being graded; just join the conversation!