Launa Zimmaro, Massachusetts League of Women Voters’ indefatigable legislative specialist on climate change and energy, was contacted two years ago by Timmons Roberts, Professor of Environmental Studies and Sociology at Brown University and Executive Director of the Climate Social Science Network team. Launa was asked about the League’s lobbying on behalf of environmental/climate change bills for the Brown University team’s examination of the influence of a variety of advocacy groups.  Because Launa had provided both oral and written League testimony to the Massachusetts legislature on major climate bills, the team was interested in those lobbying efforts.
The study, released this month, examines why legislation in Massachusetts to combat climate change and promote clean energy frequently stalls, despite major public support.  A Brown press release with the 12 major findings of the report is here. The full study is here. You can also learn more at the new Climate Social Science Network site, www.CSSN.org
The study recommends improving the Massachusetts legislative process in regard to climate change bills with “far greater transparency on committee and floor votes, better reporting on lobbying and committee inputs, better controls on utilities, and broader engagement by renewable energy companies in climate policy.”
This week Launa is once again leading the charge to pass the comprehensive climate bill the League and others fought hard for last session that was vetoed by Governor Baker. The bill, An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy, was just refiled and legislative leadership has moved to pass it again with a veto-proof majority.
Launa has been a member of the Concord- Carlisle League since 2008, is a former director of LWVMA, and joined the LWVMA Legislative Action Committee in 2009, specializing in the environment and energy.