As the federal government turns its back on science and the irrefutable damage due to climate change, Virginia cannot afford to make the same mistake.  We see increased flooding in Norfolk during storms; carbon pollution that affects our health as well as climate, increasing incidents of asthma and thus health care costs; and run-off pollution in our waterways, among a host of other issues. 

In addition, climate change is a threat to national security.  Our military considers it a major security consideration and, given the importance of the military to Virginia’s economy, we should be taking it seriously also. This is not a narrow partisan problem, but affects all of us whether rural, urban, Republican or Democrat. Our health, our economy, and our overall quality of life are all at stake.