Locals named to global warming commission
Posted on Saturday, September 8, 2007
Three Fayetteville resid e n t s we re a m o n g 1 7 appointed by Gov. Mike Beebe to a Commission on Global Warming.
Art Hobson, Betty Martin and Cindy Sagers were among those appointments to the first commission, which was created by Act 696 of the regular session of the 86 th General Assembly.
There is no question that global warming is occurring, the only question is how it will be addressed, said Hobson, a physics professor at the University of Arkansas.
Hobson said that he hopes the commission will set short-term and long-term goals for reducing the carbon emissions in the state.
“ We need to reduce emissions rapidly, ” he said, though there is a debate on how much by how soon.
Some experts say emissions need to be reduced 80 percent by the year 2050, Hobson said, while other say there needs to be a 90 percent reduction by 2030. The commission will be reviewing ways the state can reduce it’s carbon foot print, he said, which often will go hand in hand with saving money on utilities.
Hobson said there are many ways combating global warming can translate into cost savings, but there are aspects that will be expensive. One such area is controlling the CO 2 put off by coal plants, he said.
Education will also be a likely component of the commission’s work, Hobson said. Though scientists agree that global warming is an issue, there are still many people in the country who don’t believe them, he said.
Being able to study the issue scientifically is of great interest to Martin, a Ph. D. in plant sciences and vice president of American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 965.
“ I’m very proud and happy that the governor appointed me to the commission and as a scientist I’m sure to be very careful and look at both sides of the issue, ” she said.
Martin said she expects the commission to take a scientific approach, in that all data will be analyzed before any recommendations are made. While the issues need to be studied, she favors conservation of energy and nature regardless of global warming.
A scientist by profession, Martin is representing the AFL-CIO on the commission, something she is very proud of.
“ I will do my best to represent them, ” she said.
Sagers, the final member from Fayetteville, wasn’t immediately available for contact. Sagers is an associate professor of evolutionary ecology of plant-insect interactions at the UA. Beebe issued a press release Friday announcing the appointments. In the release he noted global warming is a growing concern, and something that needs to be addressed on many levels.
“ This commission will give Arkansas our own perspective on the scope and potential impact of this phenomenon and recommend the best steps to take to protect ourselves, our environment and our economy for the future, ” Beebe said.
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