Baker, green groups discuss climate change

Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles Baker, who’s taken a lot of shots lately for his stance on climate change, sat down with a group of environmentalists today for a wide-ranging discussion.

By most accounts, there were no “eureka” moments. Baker is still expressing concern about climate change while saying he’s uncertain how much of the responsibility for it can be attributed to man. He has some issues with Cape Wind, specifically the idea of making a huge investment in a wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod at a time when turbine technology is changing rapidly. He also seems to be trying to balance the cost of environmental initiatives with their impact on creating jobs.

“It was a very healthy and constructive conversation,” said George Bachrach, head of the Environmental League of Massachusetts. Representatives from the Conservation Law Foundation, the Massachusetts Audubon Society, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Massachusetts Climate Action Network, and Genzyme Corp. were also at the meeting at Baker’s campaign headquarters.

Lenny Alcivar, Baker’s campaign manager, called the meeting “a very good exchange of views.” He said the group offered to brief Baker on alternative energy, the environment and climate change and Baker took them up on the offer.

Baker turned a few heads recently at a forum at Suffolk University when he said he didn’t know whether climate change was man-made or not. “I absolutely am not smart enough to believe I know the answer to that question,” he said.

Blue Mass Group poked fun at Baker by compiling many of his recent comments on climate change. In an interview with WBZ-TV’s Jon Keller, he says: “Most of the science agrees that temperatures are rising, CO2 levels are rising and it would probably be a good idea to do something about that.”

Alcivar called the flap about Baker’s views on climate change a “skewed political discussion” and an “idealogical gotcha’ game.” He says Baker wants to let the academics focus on the causes of climate change and focus his efforts on solving the problem.

“Charlie’s views are in the mainstream,” Alcivar said. “Charlie Baker will be one of the strongest environmental governors in Massachusetts history. He’s committed to learning about all facets of an issue.”