Oregon Public Broadcasting

Conservation leaders from the Northwest are finding themselves in high demand from Congress as majority Democrats plot their climate change strategy.

Two environmental scientists from the Rogue Valley and a Nisqually Indian leader testified at the nation’s capital this week. 

Oregon State University professor Mark Harmon also testified.  He told lawmakers they need to set up a national system to verify that the “carbon credits” companies buy and sell really do offset pollution.

Mark Harmon: “They could set up guidelines and accounting systems that will lead to crediting projects that have a big positive impact and don’t credit ones that don’t.”

Conservation biologist Dominick DellaSala of Ashland says the House Natural Resources subcommittee gave him and fellow Northwest scientists a sympathetic hearing.

DellaSala left with the impression that lawmakers will move briskly to limit global warming emissions, despite all of the other issues on Congress’s plate.

Online:

Read the written testimony given to the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee