Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday called for Michigan to become “carbon neutral” by 2050 in the fight against climate change, which would require steep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and significantly greater use of renewable energy.
“The science is clear — climate change is directly impacting our public health, environment, our economy, and our families,” Whitmer said in a statement. Discussing her plan in a virtual event with other governors, she added: “There’s no time to waste when it comes to fighting climate change. We’ve got to act now.”
So what?
Michigan is the ninth state to pledge carbon neutrality, which theoretically would mean halting all carbon dioxide releases.
While the Trump administration has downplayed climate change and warned that efforts to curb it could harm the U.S. economy, some industry sectors have acknowledged the problem. Michigan’s electric utilities are phasing out coal-fired power plants.
Several business organizations praised Whitmer’s announcement, including the Michigan Chemistry Council, which represents chemical manufacturers.
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