NH Residents Open Floodgates on Climate Conversation

Yesterday, state Sen. David Watters, D-Dover, joined local business leaders and UNH students to speak out in favor of a strong commitment by world leaders at the upcoming Paris climate talks.

These community leaders discussed how the impacts of a long term agreement would affect them, their businesses and NH residents as a whole, according to a press statement. The event, hosted by the Climate Reality Project, featured a diverse group of concerned individuals familiar with the industries, policies, and environmental practices here in New Hampshire.

Watters emphasized the local and immediate impacts of climate change on the state. “

Sea-level rise, storm surge, and increased precipitation, along with ocean acidification, will damage coastal New Hampshire’s economy and natural and cultural resources,” Watters explained. “We must act now to reduce these risks and to adapt to their effects. National and international efforts to reduce carbon emissions must be combined with local action.”

Climate Reality Project organized the event on campus to highlight the local effort in the lead up to the Paris Climate Negotiations, also known as the 21st Conference of Parties or COP21. In only two months, the student leaders at UNH have gathered over 4,000 petitions and rallied over 400 students to attend events to express their support for climate action. Across the US, the Climate Reality Project is working at over 60 colleges and universities to deliver 100,000 petitions to President Obama from the millennial generation preceding COP21.

Student leader Chase Murphy, who helped organize the event, emphasized the growing desire from UNH students and other millennials across the US for a strong global climate agreement that would provide a pathway to a clean and green future. He explained that New Hampshire millennials want to preserve the long ski seasons, pristine hiking areas, and beautiful landscape that they grew up with. In Murphy’s opinion, raising their collective voices on the issue of climate change is the most powerful tool through which to do this.

“We want to see more sources of alternative energy, less use of fossil fuels, and an environmentally conscious world,” Murphy told reporters. “The millennial generation is the most diverse, well-connected and socially committed generation the world has ever known. We can turn the tide of climate change.”

Mike Bellamente, founder of Peak Advisory Co., voiced his opinion that the climate negotiations in Paris act as a global roadmap to address climate change. He stated that COP21 will be a pivotal moment in time for the U.S. to demonstrate leadership on climate change by aligning the health of our environment with the needs of a healthy economy. Mr. Bellamente urged American businesses to identify this as an opportunity to increase market share and brand loyalty through their commitment to environmental sustainability.

“As a country, the U.S. needs to move beyond the ‘Us vs Them’ mindset that pits environmentalists against the business community. In the end, we all need the goods, services and jobs that companies provide,” Bellamente stated. “It is those businesses with a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship that will succeed and thrive in a 21st century economy.”

James Petersen, owner of Petersen Engineering, emphasized that increasing energy efficiency will be necessary for the state of NH to help the US as a whole hit the 26-28 percent emissions reductions goal that is likely to be agreed upon at the Paris climate negotiations for the US. Petersen expressed his optimism that dramatic improvements in building performance can help reduce the impact on the environment.

“There are significant opportunities to reduce energy use and emissions by buildings. The technology, materials and methods already exist and there are already buildings that perform upwards of 75 percent better than average buildings,” Petersen explained. “Coupled with use of renewable energy, many of the these projects are net-zero energy projects.”All four speakers agreed that the US must be a leader at the upcoming Paris climate negotiations in order to secure a strong commitment by other nations.

“The time for global climate action is now. Everyone has the right to live in a world with a stable climate powered by clean, renewable energy sources,” said Climate Reality Project organizer Joan Cannon. “Our future is dependent on the decisions that will be made at COP21 in a few weeks. We must come together as a local community to demand a global commitment for large scale emission reductions and ensure the health of our planet and safety of our future.”

Climate Reality Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every level of society.