Virginia’s first Commission on Climate Change met in Richmond on Friday, and heard a warning from Governor Tim Kaine that climate change is the environmental issues of this and the next generation. In the absence of action at the federal level, Governor Kaine said, Virginia’s actions can and must be focused on what can be accomplished by the state and its residents. Governor Kaine established the Commission on Climate Change via Executive Order #59 on December 21, 2007, and charged the group with preparing a Climate Change Action Plan that will inventory Virginia’s greenhouse gas emissions and projections through 2025; evaluate the expected effects of climate change on Virginia’s natural resources, the health of its citizens, and its economy; and make recommendations for actions that will achieve additional reductions in greenhouse gas production. The Commission’s report to the Governor is due on December 15 of this year.
