Local News: Gov. Kate Brown signs climate change executive order

Local News: Gov. Kate Brown signs climate change executive order

At a press conference Tuesday, surrounded by Oregon schoolchildren from around the state, Governor Kate Brown signed into law an executive order to curb climate change. Joanne Rideout has more.

“Executive Order 2004, there you have it.” [Cheers from crowd]

Brown said the order would protect rural Oregonians and achieve climate change goals.

“It’s the same emission reduction goals as Senate Bill 1530, and the reduction is to 31 million metric tons equivalent by 2035, and 11 million tons by 2050.”

Oregon Senate Republicans staged two walkouts during the past year to avoid voting on similar controversial climate change legislation.

Brown said she anticipated legal challenges, but said the executive order was in full compliance with Oregon statutes.

When asked if the money spent on legal challenges to the order would be better spent dealing with the COVID-19 situation, Brown said:

“If opponents to my executive order are really concerned about the costs of litigation, particularly Republicans, they should have stayed in the Capitol and completed their work and done their job.”

I’m Joanne Rideout reporting.