Oregon is finalizing a key pillar of its climate strategy. Will DEQ deliver the climate ambition that Oregonians are demanding? – Environmental…

This post is authored by Kjellen Belcher, Senior Analyst for U.S. Climate at EDF.

Photo credit: US Bureau of Land Management.

This past summer, the Pacific Northwest endured record-breaking high temperatures, with Portland reaching 116 degrees F. Hundreds of Oregonians are still reeling from the wildfires of 2020 one of the most destructive seasons on record for Oregon. And a new study just revealed that Mt. Hood, an iconic Oregon landmark, will have low to no snowpack within the next 35 to 60 years, impacting Oregons water supply, winter sports season and other treasured natural resource industries.

Climate change is impacting every part of Oregon, and every action we take (or dont take) will either solidify a very grim climate future or stop the ever-accelerating impacts of climate change and the immeasurable human suffering that goes with it.

But Oregon regulators have the power to take immediate action to address the climate crisis.

Oregons Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has a critical opportunity to put Oregon on the right path by enacting an ambitious Climate Protection Program (CPP). The program is intended to be a pillar of the states strategy to meet the climate goals established by Governor Brown in 2020, who directed DEQ to cap and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from large stationary sources, transportation fuels, and all other fuels consistent with reducing emissions at least 45% below 1990 emissions levels by 2035 and at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

After scorched-earth political tactics by a minority of lawmakers blocked progress in the legislature, Gov. Brown demonstrated how to swiftly and fully mobilize state agencies to deliver the strong climate action that Oregonians overwhelmingly support, without delay. But do DEQs proposed rules for the CPP measure up?

DEQ is currently finalizing its proposed regulatory language for the program, which will determine how strong the CPP will actually be. But unfortunately, DEQs draft rules for the program fall far short of what is needed to protect Oregonians from the devastating impacts of climate change. As currently drafted, the program has three critical deficiencies:

But even more importantly, Oregons current climate targets are insufficient. The new U.S. Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)the U.S. commitment to the Paris Agreementcommits to reducing total net greenhouse gas emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030. This level of climate action is based on the latest science from the IPCC, which shows that the world needs to cut global emissions roughly in half by 2030 and reach net-zero by midcentury in order to avert the most catastrophic consequences of climate change. To meet this urgent, all-hands-on-deck moment, DEQ must target a level of climate ambition that is consistent with both our national climate commitment and the best available science.

DEQs proposal falls even shorter when compared to our national goal. Our analysis shows that DEQs cap proposal would only result in a 43% reduction in economy-wide emissions from 2005 levels by 2030lagging behind our national goaland would not come close to achieving the level of needed to reach net-zero by 2050. However, reaching these targets is both necessary and feasible. EERs modeling included a Deep Decarbonization scenario that illustrates a feasible pathway for Oregon to slash pollution at a pace consistent with the best available science and with our national climate commitment. Additional analysis by EDF found that if DEQ increased the programs ambition and set the CPPs caps at levels that will cut covered emissions in half by 2030, economy-wide emission reductions would catch up to the modeled Deep Decarbonization pathways and the U.S. goal. By updating the cap to reduce emissions 50% by 2030, DEQ could maintain Oregons legacy of climate leadership and cut climate pollution at a pace that matches the ambition of the U.S. NDC.

Despite the stresses of still living through a pandemic and enduring the blow of the Delta Variant (which hit Oregon communities hard and Oregon hospitals even harder) Oregonians have made it a priority to let DEQ know they want a strong statewide Climate Protection Program, and that DEQs proposed program doesnt measure up. Over 5,000 public comments were submitted calling on DEQ to strengthen their proposal consistent with the recommendations above, along with dozens of letters to the editor in community papers across the state. Citizens from communities large and small, urban and rural, progressive and conservative took the time to give public testimony at DEQ meetings. Oregonians sent DEQ a strong message: We have no time to waste. This program must be strengthened to deliver real results.

DEQ must deliver the strong, ambitious CPP that Oregonians are demanding by:

As DEQ makes final updates to the proposed Climate Protection Program, Oregonians will be asking: Do they have the will to act with the urgency our state needs? Oregonians are counting on DEQ to do the right thing and strengthen the program rules to deliver an ambitious, binding, equitable Climate Protection Program.

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Oregon is finalizing a key pillar of its climate strategy. Will DEQ deliver the climate ambition that Oregonians are demanding? - Environmental...