New London Times Carbon Cap article Press

New London Times

January 16, 2008

Local leaders support Stop Global Warming Connecticut campaign

Several members of the state’s environmental lobby joined New London Mayor Kevin Cavanagh and state Sen. Andrew Maynard, D-Stonington, Jan. 16 to announce support for the Stop Global Warming Connecticut campaign.

The campaign is seeking legislation that will enact a global warming pollution cap that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 2001 levels.

Cavanagh, who hosted the announcement, said the effort was “a grassroots initiative.”

“And we need the grassroots to step up to the plate,” he said. “We have a moral obligation.”

Connecticut has already set goals for reducing global warming emissions, but as of yet the state has not enacted any legislation.
Maynard, who will take over as vice chair of the Environment Committee, said there is “real enthusiasm” at the state level for “enforceable limits” on greenhouse gas emissions.

“These are achievable goals,” he said.

Charles Rothenberger, a member of Connecticut Fund for The Environment, said, “Climate change impacts us on the local level.”
Members of the campaign distributed literature noting the flood levels for the Thames River would be reduced from once every 17 years to once every 32 years if the legislation is not passed.

Christopher Phelps, a member of Environment Connecticut, said reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent to 80 percent would “set the bar for national action.”

“These are common-sense measures,” he said.

“The states are going to take responsibility and lead,” Rothenberger said.

The group also listed topics they think the General Assembly should enact legislation on including the promotion of biofuels, expanding appliance energy standards, advanced building codes and enforcement, carbon offsets, further investment in rail and mass transit, new emissions standards for new power plants, as well as ongoing research in the field of climate change.

Alice Liddell, a member of Environment Northeast, said the legislature should work to “expand rail infrastructure and public transit throughout the Northeast.”

Kenric Hanson, a member of New London’s Sustainability Committee and a member of the  New London Green party, said the city has been “a pioneer in developing recycling programs,” and should work with other communities on the issue.