WGF Blog
Posts by WGF members on a variety of conservation-related topics.
How an Idea Becomes a Law
As Wisconsin’s Green Fire’s (WGF) Legislative Liaison, I monitor legislative activity and watch for opportunities for WGF to provide information through testimony and comments. Unlike many environmental and conservation organizations, WGF does not actually lobby for law changes. Instead our role is to provide information to legislators and the public about proposed legislation based on …
Read More >Will the U.S. EPA Back Away from Reducing Mercury Pollution?
On December 27, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced changes to the Mercury Air Toxics Standard (MATS) established in 2012. EPA will accept comments on the proposed changes for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, which was expected to occur by mid-January. The MATS requires reduction of mercury air emissions from …
Read More >New Federal Report Predicts Increasing Environmental and Ecological Costs due to Climate Change in the United States.
Climate change presents growing challenges to human health and safety, quality of life, and the rate of economic growth in the United States. On November 24, 2018 the US Global Change Research Project released the FOURTH NATIONAL CLIMATE ASSESSMENT Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States. The National Climate Assessment (NCA) assesses …
Read More >Op / Ed Ask Candidates Where They Stand on Using Science in Conservation
On Election Day, November 6, 2018, voters in Wisconsin have an opportunity to support the health and future of our natural resources. The quality of natural resources impacts every single person in the state – via recreation, tourism industry, paper and logging industries, our heat and electricity, agriculture, hunting and fishing, the water we drink, …
Read More >What if we knew Nature loved us? How would we act differently?
Attended by over 100 members, the Wisconsin’s Green Fire (WGF) 2018 Annual Meeting caused much philosophical pondering and also provided some concrete ideas on how to make connections.
Read More >In the Vortex of Climate Change
Over eleven days in late August, four major storms raked across central and southern Wisconsin, each dumping multiple inches of rain. Late in the afternoon of August 20, a record-breaking deluge of more than eleven inches in just four hours hit western Dane County. On August 26-27, parts of Ozaukee and Washington Counties north of
Read More >Wisconsin River success story
Wisconsin’s Green Fire Board member Bob Martini gives many presentations around the state about the era (1968-2010) when the Department of Natural Resources provided evidence-based science to help reconcile our state’s industries and our environment. That effort contributed to the quality of our lives today.
The DNR provided science-based management information to policy makers, the public, …
Read More >Words of Encouragement
Wisconsin State Capitol. Photo courtesy of the 100th Anniversary State Capitol Commemorative Commission.
In recent weeks, Wisconsin’s Green Fire has received a number of accolades from citizens, other NGOs, journalists, and colleagues thanking us for our work and citing our growing reputation as a source of deep expertise and solid information. These comments show …
Read More >Evolving Science: Extreme Winter Cold and Arctic Warming
By: Dr. Michael Meyer
“Climate skeptics” often point to episodic extreme winter weather, such as the 2017/2018 polar outbreak, as evidence that climate change science is incorrect. If one were to delve into the topic a bit further, it becomes apparent that this recent cold spell could be consistent with evolving climate change theory.
A commonly heard …
Read More >Concern for Wisconsin environment more broad than you might think
Intro by James Perry, Ph.D., Campus Executive Officer and Dean Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley.
Just how widespread is the concern for what is taking place with respect to the wise management of Wisconsin’s natural resources and our environment? Those who are currently in control of the political landscape would have people believe that it’s a fringe minority …
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