The Water Environment Federation (WEF) announced a new climate change resolution during the Opening General Session of WEFTEC.06 in Dallas, Texas. Officially adopted by the federation’s Board of Trustees on Friday, October 20, the resolution recognizes climate change and its impacts on the planet’s natural hydrologic cycle.
The resolution was announced by WEF President Michael Read following the keynote address by Dr. James Hansen, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and top climate change scientist. Recognized as the leading U.S. expert on climate change and global warming, Hansen provided an in-depth overview of the issue, discussed future scenarios, and outlined practical implications to hydrology and water management to an audience of nearly 2,000 water quality professionals.
“Dr. Hansen’s remarks represent an urgent call to action for all of us,” Read said. “This resolution supports WEF’s role as a leader within the water quality community and I am very pleased that the federation has committed to helping address climate change from a water quality standpoint.”
In summary, the resolution commits WEF to working with its members, members associations, and others to help reduce the impacts of climate change to better prepare the water quality community for its effects. It also urges WEF members and local agencies to become leaders in their own communities by taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from treatment facilities and related operations, and by educating the public. Hard copies of the resolution are available online at WEF’s website, www.wef.org.
Source: WEF
