Second Global Warming Public Forum to Spotlight Alton
Local Voters and Legislators Come Together to Explore Symptoms and Solutions
July 23, 2008
The second in a statewide series of town hall meetings sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Council will convene Alton-area residents, elected officials and community groups to discuss how soaring gas prices and asthma rates as well as shifting gardening zones are related to climate change and how to address these diverse problems.
The public forum, “Climate Change: How Does It Affect Alton?” will take place Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the National Great Rivers Museum, 2 Lock and Dam Way, Alton. The event, which is co-sponsored by the Piasa Palisades Sierra Club and the Alton cluster of the United Congregations of Metro East, is free and open to the public.
The goal of this town hall series, which kicked off in Decatur on June 24, is to educate Illinois residents about the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on the environment, economy and human health in our communities.
The town hall meeting in Alton will emphasize the legislative solutions to climate change featured in the Global Warming Response Act (SB2220/HB5254), a bill promoted by the Illinois Climate Action Network, a coalition of environmental, health and faith groups formed in 2007. The legislation contains initiatives that build on the recommendations of Illinois’ Climate Change Advisory Group formed in 2006.
They include requiring power and industrial facilities to pollute less through a cap-and-trade program, and making cars more fuel efficient and buildings and furnaces more energy efficient. All of these measures would reduce the amount of greenhouse gases and smog-forming pollution generated and lower the incidence of respiratory illnesses in Illinois, which has one of the highest death rates from asthma in the nation.
In addition, more fuel efficient cars would mean substantial consumer savings at the pump. A recent study conducted by Environment Illinois indicated the Illinois Clean Cars Act (HB 3424/SB 2238), a component of the Global Warming Response Act, would save Illinois drivers more than $400 a year in fuel costs.
A recent poll conducted by InTouch showed that a remarkable 90 percent of Illinois residents say they want cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars even if they cost more up front.
Sponsored by IEC, the town hall meetings are co-hosted by local community groups in each region. In the Alton area, local partners include the Piasa Palisades Sierra Club and the Alton cluster of the United Congregations of Metro East. A climate change expert will open the forum with a presentation about the issue and take questions from the audience.
State Senator Bill Haine and State Reps. Daniel Beiser and Jay Hoffman have been invited to participate as well.
The June 24 kickoff of the global warming town hall series in Decatur attracted about 80 local residents who came to hear University of Illinois climate change expert Don Wuebbles speak as well as State Reps. Bob Flider and Bill Mitchell.
Other global warming public forums are being planned for Carbondale, Belleville and Peoria. For more information, call the IEC at 217-544-5954.
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