Virginia Climate Commission Will Help Combat Threats to State

Environmental Groups Applaud Commission Reinstatement

Environment Virginia

Richmond, VA – Governor Terry McAuliffe today signed an Executive Order establishing the Climate Change and Resiliency Update Commission at the Trail Center in First Landing State Park. 

In response to today’s announcement, a coalition of Virginia organizations committed to advocating for action on climate change released the following statement:

“We applaud the Governor’s announcement on the reinstatement of the Virginia Climate Commission.  Sea level rise impacts caused by climate change are already harming Virginia’s coastal communities and need to be mitigated.  The region is projected to see increases in extreme heat events, major hurricanes, and decreased water availability as a consequence of climate disruption in the years ahead.

“The Southeast, including Virginia, remains the highest energy use region in the nation. Implementing clean energy and energy efficiency improvements as recommended by the Clean Power Plan can reduce the state’s carbon emissions and positively affect public health and the local economy.

“We hope the climate commission will not only implement the unanimous conclusions in former Governor Kaine’s commission, but also build upon those recommendations with the latest body of scientific evidence that has been published since the Kaine report came out.”

The following organizations signed onto the statement:

Environment Virginia, Sarah Bucci

Sierra Club, Virginia Chapter, Glen Besa

Virginia Conservation Network, Chelsea Harnish

Virginia Interfaith Power & Light, Rich Cizik

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