Connecticut
Press Release
Global Warming Report Card: Connecticut Regains Tie for Lead
However, State and Region Not on Track to Reduce Emissions - Mandatory Limits Sought
Hartford, CT—Six years after the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers made a landmark commitment to reduce global warming pollution, the New England Climate Coalition issued its forth annual report card independently assessing the region's progress. Connecticut improved from a C+ in 2006 to a B- in 2007. Connecticut led the New England states in 2004 and 2005, but action had then stalled until this year's legislative session.
In June of this year, all of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers recommitted to the 2001 regional climate agreement which had set the following goals:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2010
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10% below 1990 levels by 2020.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75-85% in the long-term
Implementation - Progress and Shortfalls
"Connecticut has been a leader in supporting clean electricity," noted Connecticut Climate Coalition coordinator, Roger Smith. "Connecticut is part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative which will reduce carbon dioxide pollution from power plants and charge polluters for their pollution. This year Connecticut also adopted important energy legislation putting investments in energy efficiency before more power plants and transmission lines, and which committed to meet 20% of our electricity needs with renewable energy by the year 2020."
Unfortunately, progress reducing pollution from transportation and non-electricity energy use have lagged. Connecticut is not on track towards achieving the 2010 pollution reductions, as emissions appear to be as much as 9% above 1990 levels, according to the most recent data available.
"Unlike California and New Jersey, none of these eleven states and provinces have a legally binding economy-wide carbon cap," said Smith. "Connecticut got out to an early start when the legislature adopted global warming goals in 2004 and the agencies released a climate plan in 2005, but the time for voluntary action is over. To get us back on track we need Governor Rell and the Connecticut General Assembly to make mandatory global warming solutions legislation a top priority in 2008."
Improvements Needed to Reach the Climate Goals
- Mandatory limit on global warming pollution - Connecticut can regain its national lead on global warming by adopting a mandatory, enforceable statewide cap on global warming pollution. A mandatory cap would give Connecticut's agencies the authority they need to take steps to implement necessary pollution-reducing policies. Making the relatively stringent 2001 New England Governor's goals mandatory would send a strong message to Washington and potentially protect Connecticut from Federal pre-emption if Congress adopted a less stringent standard.
- Reject new dirty coal plants - the construction of a single new coal-fired power plant could make it impossible to meet the state's climate goals. Connecticut should protect its progress by joining Washington state and California and adopt a stringent emissions rate for any new baseload power plants built to serve Connecticut.
- Heating energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to make reductions in global warming pollution. Connecticut must significantly increase funding to help natural gas heating customers. A stable, customer-funded home heating oil independence program could protect homeowners from the impacts of soaring oil prices by helping to fund upgrades for windows, insulation, and boilers.
- Smart growth - CT has made little progress coordinating development to link housing, jobs and transportation and antiquated zoning laws discourage compact development. DOT and other state agencies should calculate and work to reduce the global warming impacts from all state-supported transportation and development projects.
- Public transit - The state transit system must be extended and better funded to make it more convenient, attractive, and dependable and Connecticut should work with its neighbors to investigate high-speed regional rail for passengers and freight.
- The governor and state agencies have yet to make progress reducing black carbon soot from major sources of diesel soot including construction vehicles, locomotives and marine vessels.
Connecticut's grade of a B- ties it with Massachusetts and Maine for first place out of the six New England states. Massachusetts was the most improved in the region, with significant new policies on power plant pollution, renewable energy and energy efficiency under the new administration of Governor Patrick. This year, Quebec received the highest mark for its investments in energy efficiency and public transit, expansion of non-hydropower renewable energy, and for championing the development of provincial regulations on industrial emissions.
New Hampshire again finds itself a the bottom of the heap with a C-, having only just begun to begin work on a state climate plan. The laggard on the Canadian side of the border is Nova Scotia with a C.
"In 2007 the scientific community issued their strongest warning yet about the dangers posed by global warming. Connecticut polls put public concern about this issue ahead of clean air and clean water. Our governor and legislature have the support they need to treat this climate crisis with the urgency it deserves. For next year's report card, we hope Connecticut will have become the first New England state to adopt a mandatory pollution cap, reject dirty new coal plants and help homeowners cut their heating bills. It's time for action," concluded Smith.
Get the report
New England and Eastern Canada Climate Change Action Report Card 2007: 4th Assessment of the Region's Progress Towards GHG Emission Reduction Targets (pdf, 448 kb)
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CT Climate Change Action Plan 2005
Contact
Roger Smith, Clean Water Action
Office: 860-232-6232
Cell: 860-874-9157
