Sen. Cohen Named CT Coordinator For National Environmental Group

GUILFORD, CT — The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators named state Sen. Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) as its 2022 Connecticut 'State Lead.'

Cohen will be charged with coordinating relevant, in-state environmental public policy events and growing NCEL’s network of state legislators who will assist in advancing environmental issues all across America, according to a statement emailed to Patch.

Her role is "vital to promoting cross-state collaboration on environmental policy, NCEL executive director Jeff Mauk said.

“Having a legislator in each state to help facilitate NCEL’s work is invaluable," he said. Their role is to "introduce legislators to emerging environmental topics and facilitate introductions with peers across the country, creating new avenues for cooperation and sharing lessons learned."

Cohen, Senate Chair of the legislature's Environment Committee, said she is "honored" NCEL has recognized her "environmental work and environmental responsibilities" in the state.

She said her charge now is to bring "people together for the betterment of Connecticut's air, soil and water."

"More and more, environmental policy is also business policy, and transportation policy, and energy policy, so it’s important that we work across party lines," Cohen said, to "Share ideas at the local and national levels, and come up with workable solutions for both our environmental challenges and our environmental opportunities."

Since elected in 2018, Cohen has worked "tirelessly" on behalf of Connecticut's environment, the news release reads.

It's noted that Cohen worked with "colleagues to pass important legislation securing offshore wind, solar net-metering, banning fracking waste and the creation of the state’s water plan."

Cohen led the passage of the plastic bag ban, an update to the bottle recycling bill, a ban on PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam and food packaging, shellfish restoration laws, as well as creating sewage 'right to know' laws. She also created and co-chairs the state legislature's bipartisan Coastal Caucus, which is a group of lawmakers who focus on the issues affecting coastal towns, cities and waterways.

About the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators

Created by and for state legislators, it is a nonprofit that organizes over 1,200 environmentally committed state legislators from all 50 states and both major parties. NCEL provides venues and opportunities for lawmakers to share ideas and collaborate on their environmental priorities while embedding notions of equity and justice every step of the way.