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Governor’s Blue Ribbon Advisory Council on Climate Change

Process

 

| Climate Science Report Process Protocol PDF file | Climate Change Stakeholder Work Group | Final BRAC Report | Handout, Description of Process PDF file | Science Panel |

 

The Blue Ribbon Advisory Council (BRAC) on Climate Change was organized by Governor Jon M. Huntsman on August 25, 2006.  The purpose of the BRAC is to provide a forum where representatives from government, industry, environment and the community can have a productive dialogue regarding the options available in Utah to address climate change.  It is anticipated that the BRAC will deliver a report to the Governor that incorporates a set of policy options and recommendations formulated and voted on by the BRAC. Economics will be considered in the recommendations.

In its analytics, the Governor has strongly encouraged the BRAC members to consider what we are trying to leave for the next generation in terms of energy, environment and economics.  With this counsel, the BRAC is charged with identifying proactive measures that Utah might take to mitigate the impacts of greenhouse gases.

The BRAC’s report will consist of two parts:

  1. Recommended measures for the Governor’s consideration.  These recommendations will identify what the State can do and what it can partner with others to do.  The measures may include both administrative and legislative actions and/or recommendations to industries or consumers which are not the subject of policy action.
  2. A section on the science of climate change.  The Governor has expressed an interest to be educated, in a balanced way, on the topic.  He has asked that the focus remain on mainstream scientific thinking and that BRAC time not be spent debating issues which cannot be resolved.  The Governor has also asked that this section of the report specifically highlight things that impact the intermountain west.

The Climate Change Stakeholder Work Group (SWG) will provide analytical support to assist the BRAC in meeting its objectives as requested by the Governor.  The SWG will provide to the BRAC an initial list of policy and program options identified through a scoping process.  The SWG will also assist in the collection and assimilation of scientific and economic information for BRAC review.  In addition, the SWG will provide the BRAC with a draft of the scientific section of the report.

The make-up of the SWG is balanced and reflects the interests represented on the BRAC, with minimal overlap of individual representatives between the two groups.  During the SWG’s scoping process, relevant information provided by community members (voting and non-voting) on the SWG will be welcomed and considered along with other  SWG research.  Further research and analytics will be guided by the requests and decisions of the BRAC.

The SWG as currently constituted has  the responsibility to determine how compiled information will be formatted for delivery back to the BRAC. . The BRAC will review the information provided by the SWG and reach its own conclusions regarding what information and policy options and recommendations will be included in the report to the Governor.

The anticipated completion date for the BRAC’s report to the Governor is Fall, 2007.

Revised: October 29, 2009