North Dakota has announced a preliminary climate strategy targeting sustainability, though it notably excludes fossil fuel regulation.
In short:
- North Dakota, the nation's third largest oil producer launched a preliminary climate plan.
- The plan prioritizes tree planting, agricultural improvements and energy efficiency enhancements.
- Critics argue the plan avoids addressing significant emissions from the oil, gas, and coal industries.
- Future phases promise to tackle more challenging projects.
Key quote:
"There’s a big blind spot in that plan. They’re ignoring the fact that they have a highly emitting oil and gas and coal industry."
— Scott Skokos, Dakota Resource Council.
Why this matters:
Transitioning away from fossil fuels can pose economic challenges for regions like North Dakota that are heavily reliant on industries like coal mining or oil extraction.
Fossil fuel extraction and production often disproportionately impact marginalized communities, leading to issues such as air and water pollution, habitat destruction, and adverse health effects.
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