Nature Conservancy Calls On State To Pass Climate Initiative

Press release from The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut:

Sept. 15, 2021

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) released its latest greenhouse gas reduction progress report, which tracks the state’s performance in meeting goals to address climate change.

The new report shows that, despite some progress in the electricity sector, Connecticut is falling behind. The state is on track to miss statutory goals, in part due to increased greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.

In response to the new report, The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut’s Director of External Affairs, Nathan Frohling, released the following statement:

“Addressing climate change has never been more urgent. The western United States is in flames even as the Gulf and East Coasts recover from another wave of superstorm flooding. The list of recent, severe storms will be no stranger to any Connecticut resident: Irene, Sandy, Nemo, Henri, Ida. These weather events are the faces of a changing climate.

“But today’s report shows that Connecticut is moving in the wrong direction. Our state is even set to miss the pledges we passed into law years ago, including a mandatory goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% below 2001 levels by 2030.

“We can and must do better. It is not enough to simply try to meet our statutory goals. Connecticut can play a leading role in the great global endeavor to protect our climate.

“DEEP’s new report finds that emissions from transportation — the single largest sector — have actually increased in recent years. This finding is as troubling as it is inexcusable. Fortunately, there is an answer: The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI). TCI, stalled in the legislature for months now, is an opportunity to underwrite new green transit options and electric vehicles, expand mass transportation and improve infrastructure to ease traffic and reduce drive times.

“Every day we fail to act means more greenhouse gas emissions, more dramatic climate change, and more severe storms in the future. Acting now to minimize future damage is a moral imperative.

“We call on the legislature to put TCI on the agenda for its upcoming special session and pass it into law without any further delay.”

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Additional Information

• Connecticut Greenhouse Gas Reduction Progress Reports (DEEP) https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Climate-Change/CT-Greenhouse-Gas-Inventory-Reports
• Global Warming Solutions Act (Connecticut General Assembly) https://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00098-R00HB-05600-PA.htm
• Climate Change Planning and Resiliency Act (Connecticut General Assembly) https://www.cga.ct.gov/2018/ACT/pa/pdf/2018PA-00082-R00SB-00007-PA.pdf
• Climate Action Timeline for Connecticut (DEEP) https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Climate-Change/Climate-Action-Timeline-for-Connecticut

This press release was produced by The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut. The views expressed here are the author's own.