Standing atop Mount Major, Environment New Hampshire highlighted the
potential and support for state actions to address climate change in
New Hampshire.
The group, joined by state leaders including
Rep. Naida Kaen of Lee, Rep. Michael Kaelin of Lyndeborough, and Rep
David Borden of New Castle, as well as activists and volunteers from
around the state, addressed the need for immediate actions to curb
global warming emissions in New Hampshire. As a next step, the
Environment New Hampshire is urging Gov. John Lynch to support the
Clean Cars Program to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars and
light trucks.
"To keep New Hampshire the beautiful state we know
and love, we must take swift action to curb emissions that contribute
to global warming," said Erika Staaf, advocate for Environment New
Hampshire. "There are many ways the state can and should address global
warming, however one of the most important is reducing greenhouse gas
emissions from our vehicles through the Clean Cars Program."
The
Clean Cars Program sets strong standards for emissions of toxic air
pollutants, promotes advanced-technology vehicles such as hybrids and
electric cars and establishes fleetwide average limits on emissions of
pollutants that contribute to global warming. The Clean Air Act allows
states to choose between complying with federal vehicle emission
standards and adopting the more protective standards — the state Clean
Cars Program. To date, 13 states, including every other New England
state, has adopted the program, which requires cars and light-duty
trucks to limit emissions that contribute to global warming and other
harmful air pollutants.
Were New Hampshire to adopt the program
by 2009, vehicles in New Hampshire, along with the 13 other clean cars
states, would release 77 million fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide
pollution by 2020 as a result of the program.
"This summer, with
gas prices over $4 a gallon and global warming's effects beginning to
show, the need for more efficient, less polluting cars and trucks is
more urgent than ever before," said Staaf. "Adopting the Clean Cars
Program will save consumers money at the gas pump, reduce our
dependence on foreign oil and save our pristine places from oil and gas
development."
