Commissioner Franz statement on governor’s carbon proposal

Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz issued the following statement on Jan. 9 regarding the release of the Gov. Jay Inslee’s carbon policy:

“As I made clear last week, Washington state needs to adopt a smart and effective carbon reduction strategy.

From wildfires and dying forests to drought and ocean acidification, climate change threatens the health and productivity of the lands and waters that sustain us, putting all of us at risk.

It is our shared duty to ensure that our lands and waters remain healthy and productive – supporting Washingtonians not just today, but far into the future. That starts with setting policies that effectively reduce carbon pollution.

I applaud Governor Inslee and state legislators for taking up the issue of climate change.

I look forward to working with the Governor and Legislature to advance legislation that reduces carbon pollution and strengthens our lands and waters, making them resilient in the face of climate change.

By building resiliency in our lands and waters, we will preserve vital natural resources and create economic security for the communities that depend on them.

We need to come together and meet the challenge of climate change head-on, securing our health and economic prosperity for generations to come.”