Foreword In mid-2012 the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences,
changing leadership in these energy-related
Arts, and Letters initiated a project to examine
arenas. In selecting these examples, we looked for
Wisconsin’s climate and energy future. The
actions and options that meet three criteria:
Wisconsin Academy has a significant history of
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They reduce Wisconsin’s carbon dioxide and
gathering thoughtful leaders from multiple per-
other greenhouse gas emissions (methane, ni-
spectives to provide insight and shared wisdom
trous oxide, and ozone) and/or support natural
on major challenges that affect our state and the
carbon storage.
world.
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Global climate change, driven by increased
ability—healthy and resilient people, environ-
levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), is one of the most serious social, economic, and envi-
They embrace the foundations of sustainments, and economies.
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They are practical and effective in advancing
ronmental challenges of our time; it is intimately
clean, sustainable energy production and use,
coupled with the challenge of attaining clean and
and they have minimal side effects.
sustainable energy sources that minimize the
These criteria include an ethical perspec-
release of CO2. These are global, national, and
tive in the sense that they are about choosing
Wisconsin challenges. Given Wisconsin’s wealth
the right means to the right goals. Our primary
of scientific and technical capacity in these areas,
goal is the well-being of Wisconsin’s people and
its rich conservation heritage, and the anticipated
of what Aldo Leopold called “the land commu-
impacts of climate change on Wisconsin life, we
nity”—the soils, waters, plants, and animals that
wanted to stimulate more public dialogue on this
make up our environment. But the actions, poli-
topic and spark innovative solutions.
cies, and innovations we highlight also serve the
To this end, we developed a new tool to pro-
well-being of the wider world insofar as they re-
vide an assessment of where we are today and a
duce Wisconsin’s contribution to global climate
practical vision for how we can build on Wisconsin
change and provide models that others can learn
values and our citizens’ creativity and imagination
from or emulate.
to shape a future that is good for the environment,
In Climate Forward: A New Road Map for
our economy, and all life on the planet. This tool is
Wisconsin’s Climate and Energy Future we also
a report called Climate Forward: A New Road Map
provide an overview of a potential way forward.
for Wisconsin’s Climate and Energy Future. In the
Like any road map, this document offers a variety
Climate Forward report we examine many facets of
of ways we can reach the destination: a more sus-
solutions for reducing both emissions and reliance
tainable and resilient Wisconsin. The report is not
on fossil fuels. These solutions focus on energy
prescriptive in terms of policy, but does highlight
efficiency and conservation, renewable energy,
policies that appear to be benefiting neighboring
improving transportation systems, carbon storage,
states and notes where specific policy changes
and developing sustainable business models.
might advance particular approaches to energy
In our discussion of Pathways to Progress, we provide short profiles of Wisconsin organizations and communities that are demonstrating game-
and climate issues in Wisconsin. Our goal is not to offer a comprehensive plan, but rather to shine a light on current conditions,
Climate Forward
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