Monumental changes have been made this December by Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes and the Governor’s Task Force to address climate change in Wisconsin. The Climate Change Report that was released December 9th, includes 55 policy recommendations for climate action in our state. Although this plan was clearly long overdue, we are far from where we were just two years ago under the Walker administration when the Wisconsin DNR wasn’t even allowed to say the words “climate change”, let alone do anything to fix it. Over the past year, Wisconsinites from across the state have been involved in the Climate Task Force Process, making it clear that we urgently need ambitious action in the fight against climate change and equitable distribution of the benefits that would come from the transition to clean energy. Throughout this process and going forward, Sierra Club has and will continue to work with the Climate Task Force, Governor Evers, Lieutenant Governor Barnes, the Wisconsin Legislature, and other policy-makers to ensure that climate action remains a priority for Wisconsin.
The Sierra Club is committing to take immediate action, alongside the Task Force, on some of Wisconsin’s most pressing issues such as environmental justice and racially sound climate solutions, deterring the prospective investment in the fossil fuel industry, conserving forests, and modernizing Wisconsin’s utility rate design. In fact, the Climate Change Report refers to the advocacy carried out by the Sierra Club numerous times, mainly on the topics of environmental justice and sustainable/equitable transportation. When it comes to environmental justice, the Sierra Club demands that we confront the racism and bias that exist within Wisconsin’s systems in order to adopt more equitable policy changes and ensure that we make decisions that put people over profit. When it comes to sustainable transportation, the Sierra Club expressed concern regarding the slow-down of over twenty recreational trails, bicycle ways, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian ways that would improve recreation and transportation options in our state. It’s critical that Wisconsin makes investments in pedestrian and biking infrastructure, especially in low-income or underserved communities. These investments would improve travel safety and access to jobs, services, and recreation while providing healthy, more sustainable, and low-cost alternatives to driving. The Task Force describes these demands and more in the report along with multiple concrete policies that will address the climate crisis.
However, there are still some issues that unfortunately were not addressed and which will instead be continued areas of advocacy for Sierra Club and its 18,000 members across the state. Some of the issues that the Sierra Club will continue to uphold include stopping the expansion of Interstate 94 in Milwaukee, aligning Wisconsin’s carbon reduction goals with the Biden Administration for 100% carbon-pollution free electricity by 2035, and recognizing the pressing need to retire all coal plants in Wisconsin by 2030. These gaps are extremely disappointing, and we will continue to advocate for them to be addressed.
We are so pleased that after a year of input from the Task Force, five public hearings, and thousands of comments, Wisconsin finally has a plan to bold take action against climate change. As Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes stated, “The people are ready for change. The people are demanding change. Farmers are choosing more sustainable agricultural practices. Utility companies are investing in renewable energy. And our local communities are reforming their policies to promote greener, cleaner economies.” Wisconsin is ready for change, and so are we. Join us with the Sierra Club as we continue to advocate for equitable methods of tackling climate change in Wisconsin. To assure that the plan's recommendations are realized, join our state budget advocacy team!