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On the Way Transportation and Minnesota’s Climate As a Key Participant in Governor Pawlenty’s Climate Change Advisory Group, Barb Thoman of Transit for Livable Communities Shapes Transportation Strategies to Address Climate Change In early 2007, Governor Pawlenty appointed a 55-member Climate Change Advisory Group to develop recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota. Barb Thoman, Program Consultant and Co-Founder Soon after the formation of the advisory group, the legislature adopted, and the Governor signed the Next Generation Energy Initiative, which specified goals and a timetable for greenhouse gas reductions—15 percent from 2005 levels by 2015, 30 percent by 2025, and a whopping 80 percent by 2050. Greenhouse gases are proven to contribute to climate change, and Minnesota’s transportation sector is estimated to contribute 25 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, with cars and trucks being the primary sources. “At Transit for Livable Communities, we’ve long known that Minnesota’s development patterns have created huge barriers to walking, bicycling, or using transit. Addressing climate change requires alternatives to driving, but Minnesota has under-invested in infrastructure for walking, bicycling, and transit. Our state needs to encourage development and provide the infrastructure that makes it easier and more convenient to drive less.” The Governor’s Advisory Group met for 10 months – a shorter timeframe than many other states. Most of the work took place in six committees, including a Transportation and Land Use committee. Thoman was an active participant in this committee, which also included representation from the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, McKnight Foundation, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, City of Minnetonka, GE Fleet Services and several motor vehicle interests. Unlike advisory groups in other states, state agency staff played only a supporting role and did not actively participate in the process to develop Minnesota’s plan. The Advisory Group ultimately adopted 50 strategies, which were included in a draft report issued in January 2008. That report is available at www.mnclimatechange.us. The final report is expected in April 2008. If all the recommendations were enacted, and they provided the estimated greenhouse gas reductions, Minnesota would just barely meet the requirements for greenhouse gas reductions in state law. Barb Thoman was a leader in shaping the transportation and land use recommendations. Over the last several years, Transit for Livable Communities issued reports on parking policy, bicycling and walking, and transportation reform – all of which promoted strategies that reduce the need to drive and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Transit for Livable Communities has also been a strong leader on ensuring that decision-makers understand the connections between transportation and land use. Barb Thoman and the members of the Working Group developed strategies that would make it easier for Minnesotans to take transit, walk, or ride a bicycle, and reduce driving. Taken together, the Advisory Group’s recommendations in the transportation sector would reduce per capita vehicle miles traveled by 15 percent by 2025. These reductions would have a net cost savings for the state! Thoman played a key role in developing several of the strategies, which included:
The Advisory Group also recommended adopting California’s low carbon fuel standard and promoting more fuel-efficient vehicles. If implemented, the combined actions would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately nine million metric tons by 2025. This is about 20 percent of the Next Generation Energy Initiative’s required emission reductions. Governor Pawlenty released a six-page, preliminary Climate Change Action Plan on February 1, 2008. Surprisingly, that plan did not include many of the strategies recommended by his Advisory Group. In the transportation/land use sector, the land use recommendation was deleted, the transit, bike, and walk recommendations were weakened, and in other areas, “requirements” became “suggestions.” Also excluded were the recommendations to adopt California Clean Car standards, clean fuel standards, and lower highway speed limits. The Governor’s plan included several strategies not recommended by his Advisory Group – a public information campaign to encourage Minnesotan’s to drive less, a study of highway tolling, and increasing truck weights to reduce the growth in truck traffic. The Governor’s recommended actions did not include an estimate of greenhouse gas reductions. The legislature has already begun to review the recommendations and solicit input, to help it determine which strategies give Minnesota the best chance of meeting the greenhouse gas reduction goals outlined in the Next Generation Energy Act. The legislature also plans to hold hearings on the document crafted by the Governor’s Advisory Group. Transit for Livable Communities will continue to actively encourage transportation and land use reform in Minnesota to reduce the threat of climate change. Thoman presented on the topic at a statewide conference hosted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in late February 2008, and will continue to work closely with partners to ensure that Minnesota does its part to address one of the world’s most serious environmental issues.
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of Transit for Livable Communities, was selected to be a member of that advisory group, which also included representatives from the business community, environmental organizations, clergy, and others. 