Martha Shulski Testifies at the State Legislature Regarding Bill Amendment

Martha Shulski testified at the State Legislature regarding a bill amendment
Martha Shulski testified at the State Legislature regarding a bill amendment

High Plains Regional Climate Center’s director Martha Shulski testified before the state Legislature on Tuesday, February 26 about an amendment to expand and revise the Climate Assessment Response Committee for the state of Nebraska. If the amendment passes, the HPRCC will be added to the committee.

The Climate Assessment Response Committee, formed in 1991, currently focuses on drought policy and response. Senator Ken Haar of Malcolm, NE introduced the amendment (L.B.-583), to expand the concerns of the CARC to include climate change as a whole, especially in terms of assessment and adaptation.

“One of the main outcomes of this bill,” explained Shulski, “is the formation of a climate action plan.” The revised committee would create an action plan for Nebraska to help the state’s agencies and population respond to a changing climate. The plan would assess the current and potential impacts of climate change on people and industries within the state, and would create a recommendation for adaptation.

To form this action plan, CARC would benefit from new members. For this reason, part of the amendment includes the addition of the High Plains Regional Climate Center as a voting member of the committee. The HPRCC delegate would work alongside existing delegates from groups ranging from Livestock Producers to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency to form a well-rounded assessment and plan for responding to climate change.

“I don’t imagine much push back,” Shulski said. “The timing is good for this discussion. We’ve had a year of extreme flooding followed by a year of extreme drought. People understand that it is good for the state to plan long-term.”

Shulski said the experience at the legislature went well. As the bill is currently under review by the Agriculture Committee, several committee members took the opportunity to ask questions from the scientists who testified. “There were no negative comments or animosity,” said Shulski.

Alongside Shulski, NDMC director Michael Hayes, UNL’s Clint Rowe, the President of the Nebraska Farmers Union, and a Nebraska Sierra Club representative came out in favor of the amendment. There was one representative in opposition before the legislature, and a spokesperson for the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association came out as neutral a commentator.

No decision has been made at this time.