State Lawmaker Sponsoring Climate Change Resolution

A majority of the world's climate scientists agree climate change is linked to human behavior.

Ohio State University ecology professor Stuart Ludsin says the state is seeing some of the effects, including heavier snow and rainfall totals and warmer temperatures that help spawn toxic algae blooms and dead zones in lakes, contributing to smaller fish populations in Lake Erie. Ludsin warns if action is not taken to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that spur climate change, Ohio's ecosystem and the economies that rely on its waterways for recreation could face severe damage. The National Wildlife Federation says Ohio power plants and industrial factories emitted nearly 150 million metric tons of carbon pollution in 2011, an amount equal to the annual emissions of more than 31 million cars. Democratic State Representative Mike Foley has introduced a resolution making it the state's official position that climate change is human-made, and Ohio should do all it can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Foley's resolution carries no legal weight, and has little chance of passage in the Republican-controlled legislature.

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