November 16, 2007
Massachusetts Legislative Panel Approves Crucial Bill to Tackle Global Warming
Statement by John Rogers, Senior Energy Analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists
CAMBRIDGE (November 16, 2007) – The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture has approved critical legislation that would require the state to cut its global warming pollution 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The bill now goes to the full Senate.
Below is a statement by John Rogers, senior energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS):
"The Global Warming Solutions Act demonstrates leadership and foresight to help ensure our children and grandchildren inherit a safe climate. The measure would put Massachusetts in the vanguard of states taking mandatory action to tackle global warming. In the absence of federal leadership, this type of initiative has become increasingly necessary.
"In July, UCS released 'Confronting Climate Change in the Northeast,' which paints a sobering picture of what's at risk here in Massachusetts if global warming remains unchecked. By late this century, for instance, summers in Massachusetts could resemble summers today in South Carolina. Even using conservative estimates of global warming's impact on sea level, what's now considered a 100-year flood in Boston is expected to occur, on average, as often as every two to three years by mid-century. And Georges Bank, historically the Northeast's most important fishing area, is projected to become too warm to support young cod by late this century.
"Scientific evidence suggests we can avoid some of the worst, irreversible consequences of global warming if we keep the Earth's average temperature from rising more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit above current-day temperatures. According to a UCS analysis, to accomplish that, the United States must cut its heat-trapping emissions by at least 80 percent from 2000 levels by 2050. This bill would put Massachusetts on the right course.
"This bill, particularly its emissions reductions targets, shows these legislative leaders recognize the importance of addressing global warming. The legislation also highlights the opportunity this challenge presents for businesses, the education and training sector and Massachusetts residents. We look forward to working with the legislature and the administration to help move this historic initiative forward."
The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading U.S. science-based nonprofit organization working for a healthy environment and a safer world. Founded in 1969, UCS is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and also has offices in Berkeley, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
