Climate change is the single most pressing local, regional, national, and international issue of the modern era. Without immediate and significant action to mitigate human emissions of greenhouse gases, we are headed down a path that will destroy our future as a civilization and a species.

As an agricultural state and as a coastal state, Virginia is on the front lines of this fight. The Hampton Roads / Norfolk / Virginia Beach metro area and large swaths of the Chesapeake Bay have already begun to see devastating effects from sea level rise. Our agricultural industry is at risk from hotter summers and erratic precipitation. Virginia's snowsports industry is gasping its dying breaths as winters shrink in length. We must act now.

30% by 2030 is an extremely reasonable target. In truth, we should be aiming for a much bigger reduction. Our future and our childrens' future depends on it.