Global Warming

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Executive Summary

In 2001 the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) agreed to a comprehensive Climate Change Action Plan with the long-term goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the region by 75-85%. As that plan accurately pointed out, “global warming, given its harmful consequences to the environment and the economy, is a joint concern for which a regional approach to strategic action is required.”[1] The Plan set the following goals:

·        Reduce regional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2010.

·        Reduce regional GHG emissions by at least 10% below 1990 levels by 2020.

·        Reduce regional GHG emissions by 75-85% in the long-term.

Achieving each reduction benchmark of the Climate Change Action Plan is vital and thus the Plan includes eight “Action Items” to guide the actions and policies of the states and provinces in meeting those objectives. Since this voluntary agreement was made emissions have risen.  While emissions in some states and provinces have leveled off, none are on track to meet the emission reduction goals.

As in prior years, the 2007 Report Card evaluates and grades the progress the states and provinces have made towards achieving the eight Action Items (“policy grades”). We are now less than three years away from the first reduction benchmark, reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2010. As NASA scientist James Hansen stated in 2006, “We have a very brief window of opportunity to deal with climate change… no longer than a decade, at the most.”

While progress has been made throughout the region in a number of the categories, none have made enough progress. None are on track. However, a legally binding economy-wide commitment to meet the levels of emissions reductions outlined in the Climate Plan could reverse this trend. California, New Jersey and Hawaii have already committed to mandatory caps for their states.  Also, there must be specific mandatory policies to supplement the cap, such as programs like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Global warming pollution- mainly carbon dioxide, comes from three major sectors: electric, transportation, and buildings. Policies and real actions that address emissions from these sectors are what the New England Governors and the Eastern Canadian Premieres and their respective legislating bodies need to reduce emissions.