The State Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources heard testimony regarding the Wisconsin Safe Climate Act Tuesday. The bill proposes that statewide levels of carbon dioxide be reduced to match 1990 levels of emissions by 2020. Methods for reaching the 1990 level will be established by 2013. Leading the discussion was Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona, who coauthored the bill with state Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison. Miller said shaping Wisconsin into a more environmentally sound state is "a challenge of unprecedented proportions" that must be met responsibly. Testifying before the committee in favor of the bill, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton recognized global warming as an international problem and stressed the inadequacy of the federal government in responding to the issue. Compared to measures European Union countries, Canada, Istanbul and various Chinese cities are taking to reduce gas emissions, Lawton said the United States' response to the issue is anemic at best. "In terms of developed countries," Lawton said, "we're way behind the curve." Lawton said the state government must respond proactively to global warming despite the action — or inaction — of the federal government. The private sector is willing to cooperate with emissions regulations, explained Lawton, but they need more clarity from politicians. The bill, Lawton added, is necessary to minimize the harm done to the environment, yet warned that much more still needs to be accomplished before any positive effect will be seen. "I am concerned with its modest ambitions," Lawton said. "It can't be an endgame." But Rep. James Ott, R-Mequon, disagreed with Lawton and said implementing the bill would be a step in the wrong direction. "[It] will have no impact on the issue of global warming," Ott said. "We don't have the technology available." Ott said a massive bureaucracy would be needed to successfully run the programs delineated in the bill. Ott went on to say that if passed, the bill would stifle the economy and lower the average wage anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000. Ott also discussed placing a larger emphasis on educating citizens to consume less energy, saying sensible, educated citizens are the greatest force in the battle against global warming. "Conservation is something anyone can practice," Ott said. Edward Wilusz, representative for the Wisconsin Paper Council, said the bill is unsuitable for Wisconsin's economy and would unfairly and severely harm Wisconsin's utilities sector. "Our primary concern is cost," said Wilusz. "This is a prescription for failure." Todd Stuart, representative for the Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group, a nonprofit organization, also said the bill is unsuitable for the state's economy. Stuart added this bill — modeled after environmental legislation in California — does not cater to the coal-centered energy usage on which Wisconsin heavily relies. Representing the Wisconsin Public Research Interest Group, University of Wisconsin junior Tony Uhl said climate change is the "number one issue for my generation." The future implications of global climate change were also voiced by the United Steel Workers Union representative Douglas Drake. "We have an obligation to our members and communities and future generations," Drake said.