Global Warming Solutions News

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As the new home of NHPIRG's environmental work, Environment New Hampshire may be contacted regarding this release. 

A coalition of more than 100 public health and environmental groups from across New England today credited Gov. Shaheen and other New England governors for committing their states to ambitious reductions in global warming pollution and said they expected to see progress toward that goal at a meeting of New England governors and eastern Canadian premiers in Quebec City today and tomorrow.

The governors will report tomorrow on progress their states have made toward a year-old agreement to reduce global warming pollution to 1990 levels by 2020, with even deeper cuts slated for years beyond.

"With many of our leaders in Washington, D.C. burying their heads in the sand to avoid confronting global warming, New England governors have stepped forward to fill the federal leadership vacuum," Bogen said. "If we expect the rest of the world to act, we need to show that we are serious about doing our part here in the region."

Sierra Curtis-McLane of NHPIRG said New Hampshire had done more in the last year to prepare to meet its commitment than most of the states and provinces that signed the agreement. She said New Hampshire had released a draft plan to curb global warming identifying a series of policies focused on cleaning up cars, increasing fuel efficiency, and promoting clean, renewable sources of energy.

"Tomorrow, we look forward to seeing our leaders strongly reaffirm their commitment to reducing global warming pollution in the region," Curtis-McLane said. "We also look forward to seeing some specific strategies for achieving those reductions."

Curtis-McLane said the next year will be critical for New Hampshire to move from broad resolutions and draft plans toward adoption of specific policies.

"Goals and targets are an important first step," Curtis-McLane said. "In the next year, New Hampshire must move to put in place the concrete policies that will let us meet our commitment."

At the root of the governors’ agreement is rising concern about how global warming will affect New England. The costs associated with severe weather from drought to dangerous winter storms, damage to the ski and maple syrup industry, and the northward migration of West Nile virus which has been linked to changing climate patterns are all among those worries.