Climate Change

"For this generation and for future generations, the environment is very important. If we exploit the environment in extreme ways, we will suffer, as will our future generations. When the environment changes, the climatic condition also changes. When the climate changes dramatically, the economy and many other things change. Our physical health will be greatly affected. Again, conservation is not merely a question of morality, but a question of our own survival." — Dalai Lama

"As more and more people understand what's at stake, they become a part of the solution, and share both in the challenges and opportunities presented by the climate crises." — Al Gore

The use of energy is what distinguishes man from all other animals. From simple tools to leverage our own strength, to fire, to splitting the atom— energy is the key to our unique status. Energy production also gives man one other special characteristic—only we can destroy the earth.

With both the power to make our lives better and to destroy the planet on which we live, energy policy is the responsibility of all of us, not just the power companies and fuel producers. As citizens in a democracy we have the obligation to set the conditions under which energy will be produced and used.

How we produce, distribute and use energy—which affects every human being—should reflect our basic values as a society. Will we preserve the God-given earth for future generations? Will we support energy production that is affordable by all? Will we encourage policies that depend on small sacrifices by each of us - conservation - to ensure energy resources are used wisely? Can we learn to produce energy from fuels that will not require that we have the world's most expensive military to protect our sources?

Public Policy Virginia believes that informed individuals will support sensible energy policies that can reduce our per capita consumption through conservation. We also believe that informed Americans will support the production of energy from sources that will not contribute to global climate change or tie us to politically unstable regimes for oil.

Our specific focus on public policy, however, means that we must go beyond what each of us feels we can do, to public consensus on what must be done. If our own individual efforts were sufficient we might not be in this crisis.

Subsections of This Issue:

• Green Choice Virginia
• Energy Policies
  • Cap and Trade
  • Carbon Fees
  • Decoupling
  • Renewable Energy Credits