Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a panel discussion on climate change at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. The event, titled “A Panel Discussion on Climate Change: How Climate Change Affects Texas and How Texas Can Adapt and Prosper”, included experts from industry, academia, and government.
The panel included Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, Associate Professor at Texas Tech University and Director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech; Dr. Michael Webber, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, U.T. Austin and Co-Director of the Clean Energy Incubator; Mr. Gabriel Alonso, CEO EDP Renewables and Chairman of the Board of the American Wind Energy Association; Dr. Robert Haley, Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of Epidemiology Division at UT Southwestern Medical Center; and Ms. Jill A. Jordan, City of Dallas Assistant City Manager.
In her opening remarks Ranking Member Johnson said, “While climate change is an issue that must be addressed by the Federal government, first and foremost, I am a Texan, and climate change’s impacts and effects will be felt locally. From increased drought in the Panhandle to concerns over extreme flooding along our coasts and rivers, to the increased risk of wild fires across the state, climate change is an issue that we cannot ignore. Not only will climate change affect the Texas economy, it will impact Texans on a personal level. I’ve seen first-hand, Texan families faced with the task of putting their lives back together after a disaster, and that’s something we can ill afford to have happen more often than it already does.”
The event took place on the same day the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report detailing the need for immediate action to address the global impacts of climate change. The report, titled “Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability”, says the adverse effects of climate change can be seen today and require governments to address current vulnerabilities and adapt to these climate related risks.
Ms. Johnson concluded her remarks by saying, “I hope that today’s discussion will lead to affirmative steps and concrete actions that we can take to mitigate the damage already done and to adapt to the changes that will occur. Ultimately, we’re all in this together, and by working together we can achieve our shared goals of a robust economy, a healthier public, and a cleaner environment.”
