Whitmer appoints Oakland County residents to state’s climate change council
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed two Oakland County residents to the state’s newly-formed Council on Climate Solutions.
In September, Whitmer signed an executive order creating the council. Council members will serve in an advisory capacity to Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to create and oversee the implementation of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, which will serve as the state’s action plan to protect Michiganders’ public health and the environment, develop new clean energy jobs, and transition toward economywide carbon neutrality by 2050.
Whtimer said in climate change is directly impacting our public health, environment, economy, and families.
“I fully believe that these appointees will help us fully implement the MI Healthy Climate Plan and will be laser-focused when it comes to combating the direct threat of climate change,” she said.
Among the 14 members appointed to the council include:
• Marnese K. Jackson, of Pontiac: Jackson is codirector of Fresh Energy - Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition. Jackson is appointed for a term commencing Feb. 3, 2021 and expiring Feb. 3, 2024.
• Cynthia Render-Williams, of Farmington Hills. Render-Williams is the global director of sustainability, homologation, and compliance for Ford Motor Company. RenderWilliams is appointed for a term commencing Feb. 3, 2021 and expiring Feb. 3, 2024.
The council will include EGLE Director Liesl Clark who will serve as chair, the directors of the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Labor and Economic Opportunity, Natural Resources, Transportation, and Health and Human Services, the chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission, the State Treasurer, and the CEO of Michigan Economic Development Corporation, or their designees from within their respective departments and agencies.
“In Michigan, we know that climate solutions are mobility solutions and mobility solutions are climate solutions,” said Clark. “As the state that put the world on wheels, what we do on climate matters. Future generations of Michiganders are counting on us to get this right.”
These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Michigan Senate. Over the past week, the GOP-led senate has chosen to block nearly 20 Whitmer appointments to various state boards and commissions citing their opposition and displeasure with the governor’s pandemic-related actions.
“This was not a move to score political points, it was done to make a point,” said Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey last week, admitting it’s being done on purpose.
Elizabeth Hertel, who was recently appointed director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), has an advice and consent hearing scheduled for noon Thursday before the Senate Advice and Consent Committee.
Last week, President Biden signed an executive orders designed to make climate an “essential element” of foreign policy and national security. Among a host of other measures, Biden has declared a moratorium on new oil and natural gas leases on federal lands, ordered federal agencies to procure electricity from renewable sources and decreed that the government will buy a fleet of zero-emission vehicles.
During his first day in office on Jan. 20, Biden rejoined the Paris climate agreement, which sets voluntary targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.