Issue Position: Climate Change

Issue Position

The people of Washington State have demanded action on climate change. It's time to elect a Lands Commissioner who will deliver.

The Commissioner of Public Lands has direct management oversight of about 2 million acres, and regulatory oversight of 10 million more. We all know that healthy forests are a key component in efforts to address global climate change.

The incumbent wants to increase harvest levels by more than 30%, denying the scientific reality threatening long term health of our forests as climate change impacts rain cycles, snow melt, and increases the occurrence of forest fires.

The incumbent has stated that he does not believe that the evidence for climate change is conclusive, telling a group of industry insiders "Climate change is going to be an issue, and what impacts does it have in all aspects of our lives. If indeed it does anything at all. And I'm not one of those that is of the belief that the argument is already settled." This shocking denial of reality is no longer shared by even George W. Bush, whose Washington State campaign Sutherland chaired in 2004.

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