MNCCAG: Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group
www.mnclimatechange.usWhat is MNCCAG?
MNCCAG stands for the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group, a 50-person group designed to develop an effective plan for the state of Minnesota that will cut greenhouse gas emissions. MNCCAG is being managed by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Center for Climate Strategies, a nonprofit organization that provides managerial support to states instituting environmental policies.
To complement the work of MNCCAG, Technical Working Groups (TWGs) have been set up. These TWGs are split into specific economic sectors and are made up of both members from MNCCAG and experts from each field to aid policy makers. The TWGs meet once or twice a month as a group to develop a list of potential policy options, which they then report to the larger MNCCAG group at its bi-monthly meetings. There are five separate TWGs:
- Agriculture, Forestry and Waste (AFW), working on land protection and forest restoration, bioenergy, waste reduction and recycling
- Energy Supply (ES), working on heat, power, a cap and trade program and carbon taxes
- Residential, Commercial and Industrial (RCI), working on energy efficiency, conservation, industrial processes and waste management
- Transportation and Land Use (TLU), working on vehicle efficiency, alternative fuels and demand reduction
- Cross Cutting Issues (CCI), working on reporting and registries of greenhouse gas emissions and public education
The entire MNCCAG process is moving very quickly. MNCCAG is required to have their final report ready by February 1, 2008. After these non-binding policy recommendations have been submitted to Governor Pawlenty, he will determine whether he wishes to implement the recommended policies.
MN Climate Change Email List
Are you interested in following the progress of the state's climate change work? Then join the new Minnesota Climate Change Listserv.
You'll receive very brief, twice-a-month-or-so updates on the meeting dates and milestones of the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group and its technical work groups. All of these meetings are open to the public and you are encouraged to attend. The emails will also include links to more detailed information on the Center for Climate Strategies website.
To sign up to receive these emails, please click on the link below. Your email address will be kept confidential and you'll be able to opt out of the listserv at any time.
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/about/councils/climatechange-listserv.html
Background
MNCCAG is part of Governor Pawlenty's Next Generation Energy Initiative. Set up to jumpstart Minnesota towards cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the Initiative consists of the Min- nesota Climate Mitigation Action Plan and the Global Warming Mitigation Act, passed in Minne- sota this past legislative session. The State Legislature and Governor Pawlenty assembled MNCCAG to reach the goals outlined in both the Initiative and the Mitigation Act, such as an eighty percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Governor Pawlenty appointed MNCCAG members, all with expertise in different areas. The public can engage in this process by:
- Attending both MNCCAG and TWG Meetings,
- Making comments during the public comment period, and
- Engaging the broader public through education, mobilization and turnout