Rep. Tarr Leading the Response to Climate Change in the Alaska Legislature
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2015
ANCHORAGE – The Conference on Global Leadership in the Arctic: Cooperation, Innovation, Engagement and Resilience, otherwise known as the GLACIER Conference, is being held today in Anchorage at the Dena’ina Center. The conference brings together world leaders, Arctic scientists, climate change experts and Alaskans to discuss and learn about Arctic issues and how to plan for expected environmental changes in the Arctic. Rep. Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) has become a vocal advocate for understanding the impacts of climate change in Alaska and is hopeful the ongoing GLACIER Conference will be successful.
“Coastal erosion, ocean acidification, changing fish and wildlife migration patterns, and warmer temperatures are all symptoms of climate change in the Arctic,” said Rep. Tarr. “The GLACIER Conference model of bringing together influential policy-makers, leading scientific minds, and those who see climate change every day will, I hope, result in a broader understanding of the issue. If we understand the issue we can then successfully plan ways to prevent or mitigate the impacts of climate change here in Alaska.”
Today’s GLACIER Conference will feature presentations and several Alaska based organizations including the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, the U.S. Coast Guard, the North Slope Borough, and the Renewable Energy Project Alaska. The closing remarks of the GLACEIR Conference will be given by President Barak Obama in advance of his visits to Seward, Dillingham, and Kotzebue later this week. During those visits, President Obama is scheduled to meet directly with Alaskans to discuss several environmental issues including climate change.
Rep. Tarr has been a forceful advocate for increased climate change research and she is the prime sponsor of a resolution in the Alaska Legislature encouraging the creation of a Climate Change Task Force in Alaska.
“The data is convincing enough that there is now a scientific consensus that climate change is real,” said Rep. Tarr. “I think it only prudent that we bring together experts and stakeholders from across the state to plan for our future amidst these troubling environmental changes.”
Rep. Tarr is encouraging Alaskans to watch the proceedings of the ongoing GLACIER Conference and tonight’s Presidential address to the Conference attendees. GCI is broadcasting the GLACIER Conference live of GCI channel 1 and channel 999.
For more information contact Rep. Tarr’s office at (907) 269-0144.
###
