NEWS!  Arkansas Governor’s Commission on Global Warming releases final report. To see the report, click here.

"Global warming is a growing concern that requires study and action on both state and federal levels," said Governor Mike Beebe upon appointing members to the Governor’s Commission on Global Warming. "This commission will give Arkansans our own perspective on the scope and potential impact of this phenomenon and recommend the best steps to take to protect ourselves, our environment and our economy for the future."

With the signing of Act 696 of the Arkansas 86^th General Assembly (HB2460), Governor Mike Beebe established the Governor’s Commission on Global Warming. By design the Commission represents a wide diversity of views and perspectives with members coming from business, industry, environmental groups, and academia. Seventeen of the twenty-one members of the Commission are appointed by the Governor and two members each are appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Arkansas State Senate and by the Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives. 

The Commission is charged with setting a “global warming pollution reduction goal” for Arkansas and a “comprehensive strategic plan for implementation of the global warming pollution reduction goal.” The Act sets several study and evaluation requirements and requires a final report be provided to the Governor by November 1, 2008. The final report of the GCGW will offer findings to the Eighty-Seventh General Assembly on which state action can be based. 

In addition to the Commission, an Advisory Body composed of the directors of 10 state agencies will assist the Commission in its process.  The agencies:  Agriculture Department, Department of Environmental Quality, Forestry Commission, Highway and Transportation Department, Natural Resources Commission, Public Service Commission, State Game and Fish Commission, Department of Economic Development, Department of Parks and Tourism, and Oil and Gas Commission. 

The Center for Climate Strategies (CCS) will assist the Arkansas Governor’s Commission on Global Warming in its examination and evaluation of the “…issues related to global warming on the state, its citizens, its natural resources, and its economy.” CCS is a nonprofit that has provided technical expertise and facilitation to several states developing stakeholder led, consensus-based plans to address climate change.  The GCGW will develop an Arkansas Climate Action Plan with recommendations for action to Governor Beebe by November 1, 2008. The development of an Arkansas Climate Action Plan will address the directives of the Act with respect to establishing a global warming (GHG) reduction goal for Arkansas and a comprehensive strategic plan and final report for its implementation. 

For background on climate change, click the button at left. To learn about meetings and documents from the Commissions process, click the GCGW button. 

Homepage of the 

Arkansas Governor’s Commissions on Global Warming (GCGW)

GCGW has completed
its Final Report 

Click here to see
the Final Report

Video clip of
Governor Mike Beebe
speaking about global
warming and the Commission.